going to the netty

[darth vader]

The netty is a north-eastern term for the toilet. But where does the word 'netty' originate?

[Quizmonster]

Darth, I'm not sure how relevant these ideas are but here goes...a couple of old dialect meanings of the word 'net' were 'free from filth' and 'to get rid of'. Could it be that the 'netty' or 'nettie' was the place one went to in order to 'free oneself from filth' (ie get rid of urine/excreta)?

I'll just bet some Geordie will be along here in a moment to demolish that concept!

[darth vader]

Not sure myself. I had one site quote it as deriving from the Italian "Gabinetto" which is a row of toilets though how geordies would relate to this i don't know.... http://www.robertolley.co.uk/signedprints/page19.h
tml

[Hippy]

How about from the Norman and French for getting clean, nettoyage? - and yes, I know that the Normans called the toilet an oubliette from the word for "to forget", but Geordies are a non-conformist bunch.

[Quizmonster]

Hippy, Your French source is precisely where the two old dialect senses for 'net' that I mentioned earlier came from. All-in-all, I certainly prefer Darth's own 'gabinetto' idea. Did Newcastle at one time do a roaring seafaring trade with Genoa, perhaps? If so, Italian sailors doubtless frequented the quayside pubs of the day and needed to use these very facilities.

[darth vader]

The source of my information seemed to infer it was from Roman times (Newcastle was a famous Roman stronghold), but as the Romans spoke Latin and not Italian, i don't think it is likely - does anyone know of an online Latin/English dictionary???

[darth vader]

found one

http://www.24hourtranslations.co.uk/latdict.htm though it doesn't translate the word toilet.... i think palus is perhaps the nearest (bog)

[banana]

Try this Darth http://www.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/Lexis/Latin/

[Quizmonster]

The problem with the Roman connection, Darth, is that there were 'famous Roman strongholds' all over the place. However, 'netty' has never been associated with the Chester or Colchester areas, for example, to name but two. I suspect it needs a far more Northeast-specific - and probably far more modern - explanation. (19th century Geordie coal to Italy/Genoese fruit to Newcastle sort of thing.) Sadly, neither the OED nor Chambers even lists 'netty'. As a matter of interest, the Latin word for 'latrine' is - a tough one this! - 'latrina'.

[David H]

Plus the plural of 'gabinetto' (cabinet/closet/toilet) is 'gabinetti', which of course can be shortened to 'netti', but how it ended up in Newcastle will have to be researched further

[darth vader]

thanks folks i think i'll go with the Gabinetti reason. 3 stars for effort!