TERMIUM Plus®
From: Translation Bureau
On social media
Consult the Government of Canada’s terminology data bank.
FOSSE AISANCES [3 records]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2011-06-10
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Sewers and Drainage
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- cesspool
1, record 1, English, cesspool
correct, see observation
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
Record 1, Synonyms, English
- watertight cesspool 2, record 1, English, watertight%20cesspool
correct
- tight cesspool 3, record 1, English, tight%20cesspool
correct
- cesspit 4, record 1, English, cesspit
correct
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A concrete or masonry chamber, usually underground used for collecting and holding sewage from a building and which is pumped out when full. 5, record 1, English, - cesspool
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Cesspools may be either watertight or leaching. 6, record 1, English, - cesspool
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Égouts et drainage
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- fosse d’aisance
1, record 1, French, fosse%20d%26rsquo%3Baisance
correct, feminine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
- fosse d'aisances 2, record 1, French, fosse%20d%27aisances
correct, feminine noun
- fosse fixe 3, record 1, French, fosse%20fixe
correct, feminine noun
- fosse d’accumulation 4, record 1, French, fosse%20d%26rsquo%3Baccumulation
correct, feminine noun
- fosse étanche 5, record 1, French, fosse%20%C3%A9tanche
correct, feminine noun
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Réservoir enterré destiné à la collecte et au stockage des eaux vannes d’un bâtiment. 4, record 1, French, - fosse%20d%26rsquo%3Baisance
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 CONT
[Fosse d’aisance.] Elle doit être enterrée à un minimum de 2 mètres de profondeur, hors des surfaces bâties; obligatoirement étanche, elle comporte un regard de visite avec tampon étanche, et un évent d’aération montant au-dessus du niveau des toits, avec grille pare-moustiques. Cette fosse ne doit recueillir que des eaux vannes provenant des w.c., sans effet d’eau. 4, record 1, French, - fosse%20d%26rsquo%3Baisance
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
L’installation de fosses fixes est soumise à autorisation [...] qui ne peut être accordée qu’en cas d’impossibilité d’installation septique ou d’évacuation vers une station d’épuration. 4, record 1, French, - fosse%20d%26rsquo%3Baisance
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Alcantarillas y drenaje
Record 1, Main entry term, Spanish
- sumidero
1, record 1, Spanish, sumidero
correct, masculine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 1, Synonyms, Spanish
- pozo negro 1, record 1, Spanish, pozo%20negro
correct, masculine noun
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record 2 - internal organization data 2007-04-13
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Plumbing Fixtures
- Ship's Organization (Military)
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- pit privy
1, record 2, English, pit%20privy
correct
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
Record 2, Synonyms, English
- latrine 2, record 2, English, latrine
correct
- pit toilet 3, record 2, English, pit%20toilet
correct
- privy 4, record 2, English, privy
correct
- outhouse 5, record 2, English, outhouse
correct
- dry toilet 3, record 2, English, dry%20toilet
- pit latrine 6, record 2, English, pit%20latrine
- vault toilet 7, record 2, English, vault%20toilet
- public comfort station 8, record 2, English, public%20comfort%20station
- heads 9, record 2, English, heads
noun, jargon
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A privy placed directly over an excavation in the ground. 10, record 2, English, - pit%20privy
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 2 DEF
A building, either portable or fixed directly to a pit or vault, equipped with seating and used to collect human excrement. 10, record 2, English, - pit%20privy
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 3 DEF
An outbuilding with one or more seats and a pit serving as a toilet; privy. 11, record 2, English, - pit%20privy
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Vault: the pit of a privy. 12, record 2, English, - pit%20privy
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 2 OBS
pit privy, pit toilet and dry toilet: terms used by Parks Canada. 13, record 2, English, - pit%20privy
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Appareils sanitaires
- Organisation du navire (Militaire)
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- latrines
1, record 2, French, latrines
correct, feminine noun, plural, officially approved
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
Record 2, Synonyms, French
- latrine à fosse 2, record 2, French, latrine%20%C3%A0%20fosse
feminine noun
- latrine 3, record 2, French, latrine
see observation, feminine noun
- fosse d'aisances 4, record 2, French, fosse%20d%27aisances
feminine noun
- toilette sèche 4, record 2, French, toilette%20s%C3%A8che
feminine noun
- toilette extérieure 5, record 2, French, toilette%20ext%C3%A9rieure
feminine noun
- bécosse 6, record 2, French, b%C3%A9cosse
see observation, feminine noun, Canada
- chalet de nécessité 7, record 2, French, chalet%20de%20n%C3%A9cessit%C3%A9
see observation, masculine noun
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Installation sommaire pour la réception des excréments humains. 8, record 2, French, - latrines
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 2 DEF
Lieux d’aisances sommaires dépourvus de toute installation sanitaire. 9, record 2, French, - latrines
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Le terme «bécosse» est un canadianisme de la langue populaire né de la déformation de l’anglais «back house»; le terme désigne non seulement les latrines mais aussi, en langage familier et populaire (à la limite du vulgaire), tout type de lieux d’aisances. 10, record 2, French, - latrines
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 2 OBS
Latrine : Au singulier, rare et littéraire. 11, record 2, French, - latrines
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 3 OBS
«Chalet de nécessité» est un euphémisme humoristique et pudique. 10, record 2, French, - latrines
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 4 OBS
toilette sèche et fosse d’aisances : termes en usage à Parcs Canada. 12, record 2, French, - latrines
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 5 OBS
latrines : terme uniformisé par le Groupe de travail de terminologie du génie. 13, record 2, French, - latrines
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Aparatos sanitarios
- Organización del buque (Militar)
Record 2, Main entry term, Spanish
- letrina de pozo
1, record 2, Spanish, letrina%20de%20pozo
feminine noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 2, Synonyms, Spanish
- letrina de fosa 2, record 2, Spanish, letrina%20de%20fosa
feminine noun
- letrina 3, record 2, Spanish, letrina
feminine noun
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
Record 3 - internal organization data 2006-06-15
Record 3, English
Record 3, Subject field(s)
- Plumbing Fixtures
Record 3, Main entry term, English
- soil-tub
1, record 3, English, soil%2Dtub
correct
Record 3, Abbreviations, English
Record 3, Synonyms, English
- bucket latrine 2, record 3, English, bucket%20latrine
correct
- bucket-latrine 3, record 3, English, bucket%2Dlatrine
correct
Record 3, Textual support, English
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A latrine where the sullage falls into a bucket which can be removed for disposal of the sullage. 4, record 3, English, - soil%2Dtub
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Accommodation was very crowded and many households had less than one square metre per person in their rooms. The majority of households shared a bathroom and toilet. Bathrooms had a soakaway for wastewater disposal. About 88% of toilets had a bucket-latrine and about 12% had a pit latrine. The number of latrines was inadequate and open defecation was common. About half the residents did not use a kitchen but cooked in corridors. 3, record 3, English, - soil%2Dtub
Record 3, French
Record 3, Domaine(s)
- Appareils sanitaires
Record 3, Main entry term, French
- tinette
1, record 3, French, tinette
correct, feminine noun
Record 3, Abbreviations, French
Record 3, Synonyms, French
Record 3, Textual support, French
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Baquet servant au transport des matières fécales, qui supplée à l'absence de fosse d’aisances. 2, record 3, French, - tinette
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 OBS
tinette : Par métonymie, généralement au pluriel. Lieux d’aisances. 3, record 3, French, - tinette
Record 3, Spanish
Record 3, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Aparatos sanitarios
Record 3, Main entry term, Spanish
- letrina de cubo
1, record 3, Spanish, letrina%20de%20cubo
correct, feminine noun
Record 3, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 3, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 3, Textual support, Spanish
Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2026
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau
Features
GCtranslate (available on the Government of Canada network only)
Use this artificial intelligence prototype to translate Government of Canada content up to and including Protected B. Available to employees of selected departments and agencies only.
Writing tools
The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.
Glossaries and vocabularies
Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.
- Date Modified:


