Depending on the historical era or dialect, toilets have been referred to by many different names. The most common historic and formal alternatives include:
Latrine. The word Latrine has its roots in both Latin and French. It comes from the Latin word for wash, 'lavare'. Over time, this Latin word evolved into 'lavatrina' which was then shortened to 'latrina' before eventually becoming 'latrine' courtesy of the French people in the mid-1600s.
Yes, an estimated 70% of the world does not use dry toilet paper to wipe. Instead, many cultures across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Europe prioritize washing with water.
Because the toilet has evolved across centuries, it had different names depending on the era and design. The term "toilet" actually comes from the French word "toilette" (meaning a dressing room or grooming routine), which later evolved to describe the fixture.
Types of Water Closet
Toilets
Before mass-produced toilet paper arrived in the mid-1800s, people worldwide relied on readily available natural materials or whatever scrap paper was on hand. The exact choice varied wildly by region, climate, and socioeconomic status.
In the 17th and 18th century, sitting on a commode or close stool containing a pan under the seat was the common solution to the call of nature. The poor were lucky to have a chamber pot which they kept under the bed, hence the name 'goesunder'.
To stop urine from splashing or dripping under the toilet seat, try these targeted, practical solutions:
Many traditional Amish communities consider manufactured toilet paper an unnecessary luxury and use resource-saving alternatives instead. In outhouses, families often repurpose old newspapers, magazine pages, or catalogs (like the Sears and Roebuck catalog). To make the paper soft enough to use, they crumple it vigorously multiple times.
The "poop rule" usually refers to a viral home-organization and decluttering hack, though it can also describe medical guidelines for digestive health.
Yes, modern kings wipe their own bottoms. Today's royals manage their own personal hygiene like everyone else.
Muslims practice Istinja, the Islamic rule for washing private parts after defecation. Instead of dry wiping, the tradition requires washing with water to ensure absolute purity.
Dish soap has the ability to lubricate and break down the bonds of fats and grease. When poured into the toilet, dish soap helps lubricate the waste causing the clog, while also breaking down its structure, allowing it to easily flow down the drain.
Crapper. A rather more vulgar word for toilet is 'crapper'. First appearing in 1932, crapper became a popular alternative word for toilet thanks to the Thomas Crapper & Co Ltd company that manufactured toilets.
Gardyloo "The phrase "gardyloo" is an Anglicized version of the French "garde l'eau," which translates to "watch the water"." It was a warning for when people were throwing waste water (chamber pots) out of the window. And it can be used as a warning cry.
The "21-second pee rule"—also known as the Universal Law of Urination—is a scientific observation that almost all mammals weighing more than 6.5 lbs (about 3 kg), from a house cat to an elephant, empty their bladders in an average of 21 seconds.
For a 70-year-old, waking up once a night to urinate is considered normal. Waking up two or more times is medically known as nocturia and is often a sign of an underlying health condition, changes in medication, or prostate enlargement.
Feminine hygiene in the 1800s was defined by homemade solutions, intense societal taboos, and a lack of indoor plumbing. Women primarily managed menstruation with washable cloth pads and navigated split-crotch underwear, utilizing water and homemade washes for daily, intimate cleansing.
In archeological sites off the old Silk Road in China, scientists discovered 2000-year-old Salaka, Cechou and Chugi. These are wooden – often bamboo – sticks vaguely shaped like a spatula. People would wrap a cloth around the end before they scraped/wiped.
Of course, there are circumstances where a dad might need to use a women's room. For instance, many men's bathrooms don't have changing tables. “Unless there's a good reason to use the women's room, stick to the men's room,” Gilboa says.
Muslims use water instead of, or in addition to, toilet paper to clean themselves after using the restroom. This practice, called Istinja, is rooted in Islamic hygiene and purity laws.
Romans used a sea sponge on a stick, called a tersorium, to wipe after using the latrine. The sponges were often washed in water containing salt and vinegar, kept in a shallow gutter below the toilets.
The most advanced washlets can mix the water jet with soap for an improved cleaning process. The washlet can replace toilet paper completely, but many users opt to use both wash and paper in combination—although use of paper may be omitted for cleaning of the vulva.