Dictionary

purging place en · NOUN

Etymology

Originally as a calque or translation of various Latin or Spanish terms.

Meanings

1. (obsolete, qualifier:premodern medicine) A place where purging occurs ▸ A body part where excess humors are expelled.
   • An aposteme gendred in þe purgynge places [sc. Latin tribus emunctoriis], þat is to say, of þe brayne vnder þe eres, of þe herte vnder þe arme holes, of þe lyuer in the schares. c. 1425, translating Guy de Chauliac as The Grande Chirurgie, p. 154
2. (obsolete) A place where purging occurs ▸ A place where the body is purged of waste: a latrine; an outhouse; a lavatory.
   • He buylt in all streetes in Rome publique purging places [sc. Spanish latrinas publicas]. 1577, Antonio de Guevara, translated by Edward Hellowes, Chronicles, page 29:
3. (archaic) A place where purging occurs ▸ The place where the soul is purged of sin: Purgatory.
   • Is this, said I, the Papists purging place? 1603, Elizabeth Melville, Ane Godlie Dreame, l. 262:

Forms

Hypernyms

place

Synonyms

bathroom (toilet facilities)