The Origin of the Term Toilet 0 8

The term “toilet” appeared in the 17th century in the French language as a diminutive form of the word toile, which translates to “canvas” or “cloth.” Initially, a toilet referred to a private place intended for grooming. It was usually a small table with a mirror, comb, and other toiletries. The table was covered with fabric, and the mirror was often draped — this is where the name originated.

In Russia at that time, the word “уборная” (ubornaya) was used in a similar meaning. In Vladimir Dal's “Explanatory Dictionary of the Living Great Russian Language” (the second half of the 19th century), убoрная was defined as “a room where one dresses, grooms, adorns, washes, and so on.” According to Dal, a toilet is “dressing, adornment, a grooming table with a mirror and all the accessories.”

Neither убoрная nor toilet at that time had the meaning of “latrine.” The expansion of the meaning of the word “toilet” in French and English occurred only by the end of the 19th century, and in the first half of the 20th century — in Russian, but initially only in relation to public restrooms (or toilets) in theaters, restaurants, and museums. Soon, the term “toilet” began to denote any room for natural needs. Thus, the word “toilet” displaced coarser terms such as the native Russian “нужник” (nuzhnik) and foreign “closet” and “squatter.”