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lavatory

noun
/ˈlæv.ə.tɹi/UK/ˈlæv.ə.t(ɔ)ɹ.i/US

Etymology

From Middle English lavatorie, from Late Latin lavātōrium, from Latin lavāre (“to wash”) + -ium (forming places related to an activity). As a place to pan gold, via Spanish lavadero. Doublet of lavatorium and laver. See also lave.

  1. derived from lavadero
  2. derived from lavō
  3. derived from lavātōrium
  4. inherited from lavatorie

Definitions

  1. A vessel or fixture for washing, particularly

    • Whon he haþ vsed he walkeþ riht To Lauatorie þer hit is diht For to wassche his hende.
    • And thow shalt make a brasun lauatory with his foot to wasshe with.

  2. A vessel or fixture for washing

  3. Handwashing as an act, particularly

    • Wᵗ condicion that at the tyme of the Lavatory eueryche of theym turne theym to the people, and exorte theym to pray for ye soules following...
  4. ›+ 8 more definitions

    1. A liquid used in washing

      A liquid used in washing; a lotion; a wash; a rinse.

      • They must be wasshed wyth wyne or wyth some other lauatorye.

    2. A washroom

      A washroom: a room used for washing the face and hands.

      • Even the lavatory, a vestibule to the refectory through which the novices would pass on their way to the recreation room, boasted a painting cycle.

    3. A room containing a toilet

      A room containing a toilet: a bathroom (US) or WC (UK).

      • Americans don't know 'WC' and Brits mock 'bathroom' but everyone usually understands 'toilet' or 'lavatory'.
      • People needing to use the lavatory often ask to use the baño in a restaurant; toilet paper is rarely available, so the experienced traveler always carries a personal supply.
      • THE RESTROOM ON THE OLDER TRAINS ARE TOO SMALL FOR AN ADULT. ONE CAN'T USE THE TOILET WITHOUT CONSTANTLY ELBOWING THE WALL. AIRPLANES HAVE LARGER LAVATORIES AND A BETTER USEABLE FAUCET.

    4. A plumbing fixture for urination and defecation

      A plumbing fixture for urination and defecation: a toilet.

    5. A place to wash clothes

      A place to wash clothes: a laundry.

    6. A place where gold is panned.

    7. A paved room in a mortuary where corpses are kept under a shower of disinfecting fluid.

    8. Washing, or cleansing by washing.

The neighborhood

Derived

lav, lavatorial, lavatory attendant, lavatory basin, lavatory bowl, lavatory brush, lavatory chain, lavatory cleanser, lavatory humor, lavatory joke, lavatory pan, lavatory paper, lavatory period, lavatory room, lavatory seat, lavatory stone, lavatory style, lavvy

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for lavatory. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA