Definition
A chamberpot is a portable container, usually made of ceramic or metal, used as a toilet, especially in bedrooms at night. Imagine it as a very early, indoor toilet alternative. Before modern plumbing, people used chamberpots to avoid going outside to an outhouse in the dark or cold. They were typically emptied in the morning. The chamberpot represents a historical necessity before the widespread availability of indoor plumbing. They are often found in historical dramas and museums.