ChatterBank1 min ago
When is a bathroom, not a bathroom?
11 Answers
For many years, I've been aware that Americans call a lavatory 'the bathroom'; it's always amused me, because it begs the question: What do they call a bathroom (i.e.: a room with a bath in it)?
Adding to the confusion, shower-rooms are now being described as bathrooms.
But, here's the killer...last week, I received details of a house, with 2� bathrooms...what on earth is half a bathroom?
I e-mailed the seller, asking for clarification, and was sent a detailed plan of the house. It revealed that the master bedroom had an en-suite shower room, plus a small room, which housed a lavatory and a wash basin. On the floor below, there was a room with corner shower,a lavatory and a wash basin and, on the ground floor, a small room, similar to the one next to the master bedroom, which had a lavatory and a wash basin. But, by my calculations, that's 4 rooms, none of which has a bath, by the way.
So, I can only assume that the en-suite facilities are collectively referred to as a bathroom, as is the shower room, below, and the ground floor lavatory must be the half-bathroom. But, as I said at the start, Americans call a lavatory a bathroom, so why would this be described as a half-bathroom?
It then occurred to me, that if an American were to receive the details of this house, how on earth could they possibly know what is meant by the term 'bathroom', as it's clearly arbitrary?
If anyone out there knows the answer, I love to hear it!
Adding to the confusion, shower-rooms are now being described as bathrooms.
But, here's the killer...last week, I received details of a house, with 2� bathrooms...what on earth is half a bathroom?
I e-mailed the seller, asking for clarification, and was sent a detailed plan of the house. It revealed that the master bedroom had an en-suite shower room, plus a small room, which housed a lavatory and a wash basin. On the floor below, there was a room with corner shower,a lavatory and a wash basin and, on the ground floor, a small room, similar to the one next to the master bedroom, which had a lavatory and a wash basin. But, by my calculations, that's 4 rooms, none of which has a bath, by the way.
So, I can only assume that the en-suite facilities are collectively referred to as a bathroom, as is the shower room, below, and the ground floor lavatory must be the half-bathroom. But, as I said at the start, Americans call a lavatory a bathroom, so why would this be described as a half-bathroom?
It then occurred to me, that if an American were to receive the details of this house, how on earth could they possibly know what is meant by the term 'bathroom', as it's clearly arbitrary?
If anyone out there knows the answer, I love to hear it!
Answers
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See times have changed. A full bathroom contains a sink with running water, a flush toilet, and a bath(tub) or shower. A half bathroom contains a toilet, or a bath or a shower. A bathroom no longer has to contain a bath. In the UK we would probably call the toilet & washbasin near the front door, a cloakroom!
In the United States, "bathroom" commonly means "a room containing a toilet" (in other countries this is usually called "toilet" or alternatively "water closet" (or "WC"), or "lavatory"). In America they are categorised as full bathroom, containing a bathtub, a shower, a toilet, and a sink; half (1/2) bath containing a toilet and a sink; and 3/4 bath containing a toilet, a sink, and a shower. The word may also be used for public toilet, although �rest room� is also often used.
In the United States, "bathroom" commonly means "a room containing a toilet" (in other countries this is usually called "toilet" or alternatively "water closet" (or "WC"), or "lavatory"). In America they are categorised as full bathroom, containing a bathtub, a shower, a toilet, and a sink; half (1/2) bath containing a toilet and a sink; and 3/4 bath containing a toilet, a sink, and a shower. The word may also be used for public toilet, although �rest room� is also often used.
Well, thank you for that little tour around the bathrooms and toilets of the western world.
And, the Americans have the gall to criticise us for calling a lavatory 'the loo', which is only a shortening of Waterloo, I think, but that's another story! I don't even know its origin, but I'll bet you do!
Thanks again.
And, the Americans have the gall to criticise us for calling a lavatory 'the loo', which is only a shortening of Waterloo, I think, but that's another story! I don't even know its origin, but I'll bet you do!
Thanks again.
Well take your pick!
a) it is derived from the cry of 'gardyloo' (from the French regardez l'eau 'watch out for the water') which was shouted by medieval servants as they emptied the chamber-pots out of the upstair windows into the street.
b) the word derives from a polite use of the French term le lieu ('the place') as a euphemism.
c) refers to the trade name 'Waterloo', which appeared prominently displayed on the iron cisterns in many British outhouses during the early 20th century.
a & b are doubtful as they lack any documented evidence, and some suggest the words may have been obsolete at the time the phrase �loo� came into common speech.
c is more credible in terms of dates, but corroborating evidence is still frustratingly hard to find. Various other theories also circulate including a derivation of the boating phrase �leeward� to loo-ward (away from the wind). I would imagine eventually, that the Americans would claim to have invented the term!
a) it is derived from the cry of 'gardyloo' (from the French regardez l'eau 'watch out for the water') which was shouted by medieval servants as they emptied the chamber-pots out of the upstair windows into the street.
b) the word derives from a polite use of the French term le lieu ('the place') as a euphemism.
c) refers to the trade name 'Waterloo', which appeared prominently displayed on the iron cisterns in many British outhouses during the early 20th century.
a & b are doubtful as they lack any documented evidence, and some suggest the words may have been obsolete at the time the phrase �loo� came into common speech.
c is more credible in terms of dates, but corroborating evidence is still frustratingly hard to find. Various other theories also circulate including a derivation of the boating phrase �leeward� to loo-ward (away from the wind). I would imagine eventually, that the Americans would claim to have invented the term!
That's wonderful. I think the problem I highlighted, at first, is often exasperated by the fact that estate agents, selling property in Europe, are not necesarily British, or American, and it's hard to establish if they are using British, or American phraseology, or their own, translated into English.
As you appear to be a font of knowledge, what do you know about the maximum capacities of digital cameras? Anything?
I have one of those brands, which is sold everywhere, but the manufacturers can't be found. It's a Zennox DV310, incidentally.
As you appear to be a font of knowledge, what do you know about the maximum capacities of digital cameras? Anything?
I have one of those brands, which is sold everywhere, but the manufacturers can't be found. It's a Zennox DV310, incidentally.
Well... to further confuse the issue, a lavatory here in the U.S. refers to the sink used to wash one's hands, as seen here:
http://www.us.kohler.com/onlinecatalog/detail. jsp?item=6406302&prod_num=2313&module=Purist+L avatories&frm=1... I'm sure I don't want to wash my hands in ya'lls lavatory...
http://www.us.kohler.com/onlinecatalog/detail. jsp?item=6406302&prod_num=2313&module=Purist+L avatories&frm=1... I'm sure I don't want to wash my hands in ya'lls lavatory...
Well I sure hope you wash your hands when you have been to the lavatory Clanad.
The term lavatory derives from the Latin lavātōrium, which in turn comes from Latin lavāre, to wash.
It used to refer to a vessel for washing, such as a sink/wash basin, and thus came to mean a room with washing vessels. Since these rooms often also contain toilets, the meaning evolved into its current one, namely the polite and formal euphemism for a toilet and the room containing it. Lavatory is the common signage for toilets on commercial airlines around the world.
The term lavatory derives from the Latin lavātōrium, which in turn comes from Latin lavāre, to wash.
It used to refer to a vessel for washing, such as a sink/wash basin, and thus came to mean a room with washing vessels. Since these rooms often also contain toilets, the meaning evolved into its current one, namely the polite and formal euphemism for a toilet and the room containing it. Lavatory is the common signage for toilets on commercial airlines around the world.
Thanks, everyone. I'm glad I posted this; it's all very good stuff. However, I should just like to point out that the word lavatory (from the Latin 'lavare') means 'to wash' and toilet can mean to wash, dress and generally deal with one's appearance.
So, whatever word we use for the lavatory, or toilet, or John, or loo, etc, ets, it's probably still a euphemism!
So, whatever word we use for the lavatory, or toilet, or John, or loo, etc, ets, it's probably still a euphemism!
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