English

A water closet at the University of Queensland

Noun

water closet ‎(plural water closets, abbreviation WC)

1. (chiefly Britain) A room containing a flush toilet.
2. (Britain) A flush toilet itself.
   • "The English Origins: There was a noble origin to the water closet in its earliest days. Sir John Harington, godson to Queen Elizabeth, set about making a "necessary" for his godmother and himself in 1596. A rather accomplished inventor, Harington ended his career with this invention, for he was ridiculed by his peers for this absurd device. He never built another one, though he and his godmother both used theirs."

Synonyms

• (room with a toilet): See Wikisaurus:bathroom
• (toilet): See Wikisaurus:toilet

Derived terms

• (as a lavatory): closet

Related terms

• earth closet

Translations