biffy

English

Etymology

Uncertain etymology, but perhaps an alteration of privy: p gaining voicing to become b, and v losing voicing to become f. Attested since 1935 (see first quotation).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈbɪ.fi/
  • Rhymes: -ɪfi

Noun

biffy (plural biffies)

  1. (US, slang) A toilet.
  2. (US, slang) An outhouse.
    • 1935, William Royal Greer, Gems of American Architecture‎[1]:
      By a clever staggering of seats in each story, this model may be used either as a two-family biffie, or in place of the conventional set of two, without danger to either user.
      […]
      Constructed to withstand hard usage, this biffy is a three-holer on a nine-hole chassis and combines the utmost in sanitation […]
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