Why were toilets called commodes?

Author: Myrtle Turcotte  |  Last update: Friday, March 6, 2026

Why is Toilet Called the Commode? The term 'commode' originated from the French word for 'convenient' or 'suitable'. In historical times, commodes were decorative pieces of furniture hiding a chamber pot.

Why do old people call toilets commodes?

The word derives from the French word for "convenient" or "suitable." Later on, "commode" was used to mean a particular type of cabinet that held chamber pots. And gradually it evolved to refer to a piece of wooden chair-like furniture that held the chamber pot.

Why do southerners call a toilet a commode?

The term originates in the vocabulary of French furniture from about 1700. At that time, a commode meant a cabinet or chest of drawers, low enough so that it sat at the height of the dado rail (à hauteur d'appui). It was a piece of veneered case furniture much wider than it was high, raised on high or low legs.

Why were toilets called Jakes?

In 16th century England, Jake was a common nickname for a yokel — a hick. In the days when there was no indoor plumbing as we enjoy today, "Jakes" or "Jake's House" made for useful euphemisms for the latrine.

What is the old fashioned word for toilet?

The Privy. Rarely used these days, 'the privy' originally meant a hidden place or the sharing of secret or private thoughts. Over time, however, especially in the North of England and Scotland, the word privy was conflated with toilet, and eventually, this new meaning supplanted the old meaning.

A brief history of toilets - Francis de los Reyes

What is the difference between a toilet and a commode?

A toilet is a fixed bathroom fixture used for the disposal of human waste. It's typically made of ceramic and is a permanent part of modern bathrooms. On the other hand, a commode can refer to a portable toilet or a chair with a container underneath, used for the same purpose but is more versatile and movable.

How do you say toilet in a classy way?

'Washroom' is another formal word that most English speakers will understand. It is mostly used in the USA. 'Restroom' is a safe term to use in the United States and won't offend anyone. When traveling on ​motorways​, signs may appear announcing “rest stops”.

Why are toilets called crappers?

The toilets displayed the company logo 'Thomas Crapper & Co Ltd'. The US soldiers stationed in England at the time started referring to the toilet as “the Crapper” and brought that slang term back with them to the United States. The slang word for toilet became more widely taken up and is still being used today.

What do sailors call the toilet?

The term “head” used for a marine toilet started because of the location of the toilet on the earliest sailing ships. For crewmen, the facilities were located at the head of the ships. The front of ships had a figurehead: a carved wooden figure or bust fitted on the bow of the ship.

Why is a restroom called a John?

The bathroom expression “John” comes from a man by the name of Sir John Harrington. Harrington lived in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He wrote risqué poetry, and people referred to him as the “Saucy Godson” of Queen Elizabeth I.

What is the redneck term for bathroom?

Powder room, commode

A less genteel Southern-ism for the bathroom is “commode.” While more widely it's used to refer to a ship's bathroom, in the South, it's just any toilet, land-bound or not.

What do the British call a toilet?

The Loo. Loo is an informal yet polite British term for toilet. The word “loo” has interesting origins and can be traced back to Medieval Europe, when chamber pots had to be emptied from bedroom windows onto the street below.

Why do men sit on the toilet for ages?

Men are more easily able to switch between sympathetic and parasympathetic states, while women don't have that “binary switch” and will stay in that state of sympathetic arousal for a longer time, until they feel fatigued.

What did they call toilets in the 1700s?

17th and 18th Century Toilets Became Cesspits

By the time the 17th century arrived, and well into the 18th century, those latrines superbly created by the Romans were a distant memory. During this time, many took to their gardens to create a cesspit where they would bury their waste.

How to keep a commode smelling fresh?

You can use a commercial disinfectant or a mixture of bleach and water to clean the commode bucket. Ventilation: Ensure proper ventilation in the room where the commode chair is kept. Open windows or use a fan to allow fresh air to circulate and prevent odors from lingering.

What do Marines call the toilet?

Head. Latrine or toilet. Oorah. Motivational shout uttered by Marines. Passageway.

What does bravo zulu stand for?

Bravo Zulu is a phrase meaning "well done" and comes from the Allied Naval Signal Book (ACP- 175. Signals are sent as combinations of letters and/or numbers that have specific meanings. Thomas J.

What did sailors use before toilet paper?

Early North American settlers used corn cobs. They were abundant, they were soft and they were easy to handle. Sailors used something called a 'tow rag'. A tow rag was a long piece of frayed rope that dangled in the water.

What did people use before toilet paper?

Before the availability of mass produced toilet paper in the mid-1800s, humans had to resort to using what was free and available, even if it didn't provide the most effective (or comfortable) results. Options included rocks, leaves, grass, moss, animal fur, corn cobs, coconut husks, sticks, sand, and sea shells.

What do Germans call toilets?

Bathroom and toilet in German: How to say it

The bathroom is the “Badezimmer” in German and the “toilet” is the “Toilette”. Both words work but if you're at someone's home, it's more common to ask for the “Badezimmer” while in public you would directly ask for the “Toiletten”.

What is the oldest word for toilet?

Etymology
  • Toilet was originally a French loanword (first attested in 1540) that referred to the toilette ("little cloth") draped over one's shoulders during hairdressing. ...
  • The use of "toilet" to describe a special room for grooming came much later (first attested in 1819), following the French cabinet de toilet.

What do they call the bathroom in Ireland?

5. The Jacks. Here's a handy one: 'the Jacks' is an Irish word for the toilets, or restroom. Don't be surprised if you hear that while out with friends and classmates at the pub (once they re-open), or at other events where public toilets are available.

What is a men's toilet called?

A urinal (US: /ˈjʊərənəl/, UK: /jʊəˈraɪnəl/) is a sanitary plumbing fixture similar to a toilet, but for urination only. Urinals are often provided in men's public restrooms in Western countries (less so in Muslim countries).

What does number 2 mean in toilet?

to do a "number one": to pee, to urinate idiom. to do a "number two": to poop, to defecate idiom. "Number one" and "number two" are expressions often used by parents and children when talking about going to the bathroom.

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