Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A room equipped with washing and often toilet facilities; a bathroom.
  • noun A washbowl or basin, especially one permanently installed with running water.
  • noun A flush toilet.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The ceremonial washing of the hands of the priest in the celebration of the holy communion.
  • noun In plumbing, a permanent wash-bowl of marble, enameled iron, or porcelain, fitted with hot and cold-water pipes, a waste-pipe, and other conveniences and fixtures. It may be affixed to a wall or stand upon the floor.
  • noun A room, especially in a hotel or public building, provided with means for washing the hands and face, and often including a water-closet.
  • Washing, or cleansing by washing.
  • noun A room or place for washing, or where anything is washed.
  • noun A sort of concave stone table upon which, in the middle ages, dead bodies were washed before burial, in monasteries, hospitals, and elsewhere.
  • noun In medicine, a wash or lotion for a diseased part.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A place for washing.
  • noun A basin or other vessel for washing in.
  • noun A wash or lotion for a diseased part.
  • noun A place where gold is obtained by washing.
  • noun A room containing one or more sinks for washing, as well as one or more toilet fixtures; also called bathroom, toilet, and sometimes commode. Commode and toilet may refer to a room with only a toilet fixture, but without a sink.
  • adjective Washing, or cleansing by washing.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A bathroom; a washroom; a room containing a toilet.
  • noun A facility for washing hands; a basin.
  • noun UK A toilet, a water closet.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
  • noun a toilet that is cleaned of waste by the flow of water through it
  • noun a bathroom sink that is permanently installed and connected to a water supply and drainpipe; where you can wash your hands and face

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English, piscina, from Late Latin lavātōrium, from lavātor, launderer, from Latin lavāre, to wash; see leu(ə)- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin as if *lavatorius, from Late Latin lavator ("a clothes washer"), from lavō ("wash"); see lave.

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Examples

  • The midcabin lavatory is closer, but I’ve got time to kill, so I turn and pick my way back among the crammed seats.

    Read from Death’s Disciples 2009

  • The lavatory is also very nice, a serene expanse of cool white that nicely offsets the busy detail of the tile.

    10/17/08: Not dead, really 2008

  • It has a capacity for 4 passengers in its normal configuration, but it can carry up to 6 passengers if the lavatory is removed.

    Embraer Phenom 100 Jet Papercraft | Papercraft Paradise | PaperCrafts | Paper Models | Card Models Michael James 2008

  • A lavatory is commonly called a wash basin, some types of valves are called stops.

    water heaters 2004

  • A lavatory is commonly called a wash basin, some types of valves are called stops.

    water heaters 2004

  • A lavatory is commonly called a wash basin, some types of valves are called stops.

    water heaters 2004

  • A lavatory is commonly called a wash basin, some types of valves are called stops.

    water heaters 2004

  • A lavatory is commonly called a wash basin, some types of valves are called stops.

    water heaters 2004

  • A lavatory is commonly called a wash basin, some types of valves are called stops.

    water heaters 2004

  • A lavatory is commonly called a wash basin, some types of valves are called stops.

    water heaters 2004

Comments

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  • I think this word is only ever used on airplanes (in the states, at least).

    February 21, 2007

  • and parochial schools.

    February 21, 2007

  • *Definitely* parochial schools!

    February 21, 2007

  • I never had the pleasure. Good to know, thanks.

    February 21, 2007

  • Unbelievable. Someone's actually considering it.

    February 28, 2009

  • Somehow, the phrase "pissing in the wind" comes to mind -- I just can't seem to work it into a joke... (re: rt's post)

    February 28, 2009

  • Sure, they can charge to use the loo. Just wait till that one time someone really has to go and doesn't have the money. They'll stop charging pretty soon after that--once someone cleans it up.

    February 28, 2009

  • Easy, just go behind a tree.

    February 28, 2009

  • On the plane?

    March 1, 2009

  • Keep a cactus in your carry-on, that's what I always say.

    March 1, 2009

  • So... piss in your carry-on?

    March 2, 2009

  • A cactus? That could lead to some discomfort, especially on a turbulent flight.

    March 2, 2009

  • Silly bear. You take the cactus out of your carry-on bag and put it innocently next to the hacienda. When it's time to go, you walk nonchalantly down the aircraft aisle, hop over the horse trough, go across the street, behind the cactus and whizz on the pile of stones.

    March 2, 2009

  • What if other people follow your lead? A succulent doesn't need much water, an entire planeful of passengers could drown it.

    March 2, 2009

  • Any better ideas?

    March 2, 2009

  • Well, I'm no botanist, but perhaps a young citrus tree?

    Also, preferably something that could not be used as a weapon, the way a spiky, ouchy cactus could. You wouldn't want it confiscated at airport security.

    March 2, 2009

  • Sure, that'll work--as soon as they allow plant matter on planes. :-\

    March 2, 2009

  • Somehow, rt, that appears to be an obstacle noone else in this discussion has considered.

    March 2, 2009

  • The solution is simple. People who may need to use a lavatory should simply not board the plane in the first place. That will eliminate (ha!!) the problem entirely and not involve plant matter.

    March 3, 2009

  • What about those really, really flat sponges that absorb tons of water without leaking? You could stash a couple of those puppies in your pants and away you go!

    March 3, 2009

  • Orrrrrrr....ShamWow! A whole new market. Goody.

    March 3, 2009

  • But they don't allow non-human animal matter either!

    Or do you refer to fake sponges?

    March 3, 2009

  • Totally fake. They are flat, like cardboard but plump up like crazy when absorbing liquid.

    March 3, 2009

  • Peeing on a ShamWow seems somehow like poetic justice.

    But doing so in one's assigned seat? Eugh.

    March 3, 2009

  • Well, at least you'd have a seat cushion.

    March 3, 2009

  • David Sedaris has a hilarious story about his adventures using the Stadium Pal. Yes people, the future is now!

    March 3, 2009