lavatory

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   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.

2. 2
   noun

   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...

3. 3
   noun

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

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

4. 4
   noun

   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.

5. 5
   noun

   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'.

6. 6
   noun

   A plumbing fixture for urination and defecation: a toilet.

   In a traditional German lavatory, the hole in which shit disappears after we flush water is way in front, so that the shit is first laid out for us to sniff at and inspect for traces of some illness; in the typical French lavatory, on the contrary, the hole is in the back - that is, the shit is supposed to disappear as soon as possible; finally, the Anglo-Saxon (English or American) lavatory presents a kind of synthesis, a mediation between these two opposed poles - the basin is full of water so that the shit floats in it - visible, but not to be inspected.

7. 7
   noun

   a toilet that is cleaned of waste by the flow of water through it

8. 8
   noun

   a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

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.