A commode is a movable piece of furniture shaped like a chair, which has a large pot belowor inside it. It is used as a toilet, especially by people who are too ill to be able to walk easily.
[mainly British]
2. countable noun
A commode is a toilet.
[US]
commode in British English
(kəˈməʊd)
noun
1.
a piece of furniture, usually highly ornamented, containing drawers or shelves
2.
a bedside table with a cabinet below for a chamber pot or washbasin
3.
a movable piece of furniture, sometimes in the form of a chair, with a hinged flap concealing a chamber pot
4.
a woman's high-tiered headdress of lace, worn in the late 17th century
Word origin
C17: from French, from Latin commoduscommodious
commode in American English
(kəˈmoʊd)
noun
1.
a high headdress worn by women around 1700
2.
a chest of drawers
3.
a small, low table with drawers or cabinet space
: also commode table
4.
a movable washstand
5.
a kind of chair enclosing a chamber pot
6.
toilet (sense 4) toilet (sense 4b)
Word origin
Fr, chest of drawers, orig., convenient, suitable < L commodus, suitable: see com- & mode
Examples of 'commode' in a sentence
commode
The commode was stoutly made, and by the time the legs and seat collapsed inwards the afternoon was waning.
Murray, Stephen DEATH AND TRANSFIGURATION (2002)
`I shall have Sarah neaten up your commode with a little fresh Flanders lace.
Fidelis Morgan THE RIVAL QUEENS: A COUNTESS ASHBY DE LA ZOUCHE MYSTERY (2002)
Even the commode was pink, and the rosy glow of the pink bulbs in the light fixture over the mirror made him almost handsome.
Wood, Bari DOLL'S EYES (2002)
It served as both wash basin and commode, with the seat only inches from the lower bunks.