Why is it called a lavatory?


Why is it called a lavatory? Rooms with toilets and sinks have always been called lavatories - not only on airplanes - because of the Latin words “lavare” which means “to wash” and “lavatorium” for the facility where people washed. In English, it's often called a “washroom.”


Why is it called a lavatory?

Rooms with toilets and sinks have always been called lavatories - not only on airplanes - because of the Latin words “lavare” which means “to wash” and “lavatorium” for the facility where people washed. In English, it's often called a “washroom.”