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I'm developing a quiz and would like to know the global English names for cockroaches and outhouses (outside loos). Thanks.
Question
#84835. Asked by Odinsraven. (Aug 22 07 7:53 PM)
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McGruff
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I can't think of another name for a cockroach, but we called an outhouse the "privy".
An outhouse, (also known as a privy, kybo, jakes or earth-closet) usually refers to a type of toilet in a small structure separate from the main building which does not have a flush or sewer attached.
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outhouse
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McGruff
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If you're going to include portable outhouses, here are several terms (I'd stay clear of using "shit-shack" on your quiz):
A portable toilet (or porta-loo) is a modern, portable, self-contained outhouse manufactured of molded plastic in a variety of colors and are often used as a temporary toilet for construction sites and large social gatherings. Portable toilets are referred to colloquially or sold under such brands as port-a-john, port-o-let, sani-privy, port-a-san, porta-potty, toi-toi, shit-shack, porta-kybo or portaloo. Portaloo is a trade mark owned by Portakabin, Ltd.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portable_toilet
I would add "johnny-on-the-spot" to these terms.
Found an interesting article on the origin of this phrase, nothing to do with portable johns.
http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-joh3.htm
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zbeckabee
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Roach for cockroach.
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MonkeyOnALeash
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Crap-Jack. Moon Closet.
As for Roach:
"Word History: The word for cockroach in Spanish is cucaracha, which should certainly set anyone with an eye for etymology to thinking. Users of English did not simply borrow the Spanish word, however. Instead, they made it conform in appearance to other English words: cock, the word for rooster, and roach, the name of a fish. We do not know exactly why these words were chosen other than their resemblance to the two parts of the original Spanish word. We do know that the first recorded use of the word comes from a 1624 work by the colonist John Smith. The form Smith used, cacarootch, is closer to the Spanish. A form more like our own, cockroche, is first recorded in 1657."
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=2&q=cockroach
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star_gazer
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"The Willey".
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davejacobs
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In the British Army, thunder-box.
In Australia, the dunny. The dunny-man came and collected the contents once a week.
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robraw
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Australia outhouse
Dunny.
Older terminology includes thunderbox, deep and dark.
Also called the privy
Also heard it called (not in Oz)
earth-closet
Cocky or roach for the other
Robyn
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robboy
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Down thisaway, the more genteel euphemism for a cockroach is waterbug.
http://www.roachcontrol.com/american.htm
An outhouse is usually just an outhouse, although more affected folk will strain to refer to it as the privy.
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darkpresence
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In Ireland we call a cockroach a clock, no idea why. Outhouses, like all toilets, are called the jacks.
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lanfranco
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The question asked for the "global English" terms, by which I understand "International English." If there's anything that these interesting and entertaining answers demonstrate, it is that there is, as yet, no such thing as "Global English." I doubt that there ever will be.
In fact, I genuinely hope that it won't happen.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_English
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Baloo55th
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Bog is a fairly common term for both inside and outside facilities. A Scots term usually for an outside one is cludgie. In southern English English various spellings karzy/khazi/kharsy and so on. No connection with the Indian tribe of a similar name so far as I am aware, but you never know.
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