See Also: lavatory(medicine)
lavatory(1)(dictionary)
lavatory(2)(dictionary)
lavatory(dictionary)

lavatory(2) (iou)



lavatory noun. LME.
[Late Latin lavatorium, from Latin lavat-: see LAVATION, -ORY1.]
A vessel for washing; a laver, a bath. Also (Ecclesiastical), a piscina. LME.
b. fig. A means of spiritual cleansing or purification. LME-M17.
A lotion, a wash. LME-L17.
Ecclesiastical. The ritual washing of a celebrant's hands at the offertory (cf. LAVABO 1a) or (formerly) after the cleansing of the vessels following the Eucharist. E16.
Orig., a room with washing facilities. Now, a room, building, or compartment fitted for people to urinate and defecate in, usu. with facilities for washing the hands and face; also, any place or facility provided for urination and defecation. M17.
J. P. Donleavy And a toilet bowl wedged between two walls, the lavatory. M. Spark Freddy went to the lavatory, not from need, but in case there should be a long journey ahead.
b. An appliance for urinating and defecating into, usu. flushed by water. M20.
attrib.: K. Williams You're sitting on this freshly painted lavatory seat and the cistern overflows.
A laundry. M17-L19.
Comb.: lavatory humour unsavoury or crude humour making undue reference to lavatories, lavatorial humour; lavatory paper = toilet paper s.v. TOILET noun; lavatory style a lavatorial style of architecture.