Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A building behind or back from the main or front building; hence, in country places, especially in New England, a privy.
  • noun Same as bakehouse.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A building behind the main building.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A smaller building behind a main building; often a privy.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

back +‎ house

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word backhouse.

Examples

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • In Manitoba, this word was used exclusively, with the same meaning as "outhouse", that is a privy separate from the house. At Halloween, the children would chant: "Halloween Apples, Candy or Cake; If you don't give us any, your Backhouse will shake!" Many were overturned each year, whether candy was given or not.

    June 14, 2009