commode

A commode is a term with two common meanings in English. In furniture, a commode is a low chest of drawers, often standing on short legs and sometimes featuring a marble top or ornate hardware. It originated in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries and was valued as a storage piece and sometimes as a vanity when paired with a mirror. Over time, the word has come to describe a broad class of chest‑of‑drawers within interior decor, with styles ranging from early French designs to later European and American reproductions. In antique furniture contexts, specific forms such as the Louis XV or Directoire commode may be identified by period features and decoration.

In medical and caregiving contexts, a commode refers to a portable toilet device used by individuals who cannot easily reach a bathroom. A bedside commode typically combines a chair or seat with a removable bucket or pan for waste collection. Some models are wheeled or foldable for ease of transfer and cleaning. Commode chairs are commonly used in hospitals, long‑term care facilities, and home care, providing a sanitary, convenient solution that can be positioned next to a bed or in a bathroom alcove. Caregivers remove and empty the pan, then rinse and reinsert it.

The term originates from the French word commode, meaning convenient, reflecting the intended practicality of both the furniture and the utility item. In contemporary usage, the furniture sense remains common in discussions of antique and vintage pieces, while the medical sense remains standard terminology in caregiving and clinical settings.