cloaca UK /kləʊ̯ˈeɪ̯.kə/US /kloʊ̯ˈeɪ̯.kə/ noun5 •The opening in reptiles, amphibians and birds, as well as elasmobranchians, lobe-finned fishes, and monotreme mammals, which serves as the common outlet for the urogenital ducts and rectum.In birds the rectum, at the termination of its canal, forms an oval or elongated pouch […] and then expands into a cavity, which has been named cloaca. — 1822 •Structure in the embryo during the development of the reproductive and urinary systems. •(figurative) A sewer.[…] that tremendous cloaca of Pauperism […] •An outhouse or lavatory.To every house […] a cloaca. — 1840 •A duct through which gangrenous material escapes a body.Across this shell [sc. of bone] small holes are eaten, by which the matter escapes, and which are called cloacae (Weidmann). — 1846 formscloacae · cloacas