litter box

See also: litterbox

English

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “what is the exam meaning of litter here?”)

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Noun

litter box (plural litter boxes)

1. A box used to provide a soiling area for (usually) pet cats, generally filled with kitty litter, sand, clay chips, etc.

   Pregnant women are often advised to have someone else clean the litter box to reduce the risk of contracting toxoplasmosis.

2. (usually humorous) A toilet.
   • 1975 December 27, Tacky Tricky Ricky, “Come Write With ... GCN”, in Gay Community News, volume 3, number 26, page 9:

     The graffiti in the GCN personsroom, with its numerous Add-Ons, may be the only real communication between staff members in that office. For those of you who have missed this marvel at the GCN litterbox, I have attempted to transcribe some of the words of wisdom for your enlightenment.

Synonyms

• (box designated as soiling area for cats): cat box

Translations

box to provide a soiling area for cats

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 貓砂盆／猫砂盆 (māoshāpén)

• Finnish: kissanhiekkalaatikko
• French: bac à chat m, litière (fr) f
• German: Katzenklo (de) n
• Italian: lettiera f
• Polish: kuweta dla kota, kuweta (pl)
• Portuguese: caixa de areia (pt) f, liteira f
• Spanish: caja de arena f
• Swedish: kattlåda (sv) c
• Turkish: kedi tuvaleti

See also

• cat litter
• kitty litter