Obs.
1. = COMMON HALL 1.
1467. Ord. Worcester, in Eng. Gilds, 372. Yf eny of the xxiiij. or xlviij. discouer the comyn counseille that ys seid in the comyn house.
2. The House of Commons.
1480. Caxton, Chron. Eng., cclxi. 342. The comyns of the reame were assembled in the comyn hous comonyng and treatyng.
1587. Fleming, Contn. Holinshed, III. 1956/2. The common house was diuided vpon the question.
3. A place in a monastery where a common fire was kept for the monks to warm themselves at.
1593. Rites of Durham (Surtees Soc.), 75. On the right hand, as yow goe out of the Cloysters into the Infirmary was the Commone House … being to this end to have a fyre keapt in yt all wynter, for the Monnckes to cume and warme them at, being allowed no fyre but that onely.
4. A house of common resort.
1595. Locrine, II. ii. Look you be at the common-house to-morrow.
spec. a. A privy. Cf. COMMONS 5.
1596. Harington, Metam. Ajax (1814), 51. By digging pits in the earth or placing the common houses over rivers.
b. A brothel, stews.
1603. Shaks., Meas. for M., II. i. 43. Their abuses in common houses.
