cesspool

 
Pronunciation: /ˈsɛspuːl/

noun

  • an underground container for the temporary storage of liquid waste and sewage.
  • a disgusting or corrupt place: the town is not the cesspool you portrayed

Origin:

late 17th century (denoting a trap under a drain to catch solids): probably an alteration, influenced by pool1, of archaic suspiral 'vent, water pipe, settling tank', from Old French souspirail 'air hole', based on Latin sub- 'from below' + spirare 'breathe'