'Head' or 'heads', I've always understood, is a (British) naval usage, and
something to do with the position of shipboard latrines. As for 'can', I
think it originated as a name for an actual object, i.e. the bucket or
similar that was used, particularly in the case of a chemical loo. Bog is
what you get if you pee outside on the ground.
There was also the medieval 'garde-robe' or chute through the castle wall
for obvious purposes, which got its name because the smell was reputed to
keep clothes-moths at bay, and therefore all those fine garments used to be
hung in that room. Hence modern wardrobe.
Mark, surely you and I have had this conversation, or one very like it, not
too long ago? Chamberpots in that instance, I believe. And going back to
that other question of whether or not married couples shared the same po,
I've often wondered whether the habit amongst the wealthy of having
dressing-rooms wasn't really for the privacy of the commode.
Must sign off from this fascinating subject and get ready to go and give a
reading with the women's writing group I belong to, to an audience of
Women's Institute members. (You know, Jerusalem and jam.) Shall probably
remember this in the middle and get the giggles!
best joanna
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Weiss" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2005 4:33 PM
Subject: Re: having fun?
> Both bog and can refer back to pre-indoor plumbing--with the overtone of
> "bog people" in the one case and permission in the other. "Head" is too
> awful to talk about--would be nice to know the origin of that one.
>
> There's also "privy," presumably from "private."
>
> Mark
>
>
> At 10:37 AM 6/8/2005, you wrote:
>>A well brought-up British yob in my day, (cough, expectorate) would say
>>"bog".
>>mj
>>
>>Halvard Johnson wrote:
>>
>>>On Jun 8, 2005, at 10:13 AM, Mark Weiss wrote:
>>>
>>>>Lavatory is accurate if you wash your hands in it. Crapper makes the
>>>>recipient the active party. Loo sounds like it's instead of something.
>>>>WC (watercloset) is just silly, tho the idea of a set of shelves for
>>>>water is kind of neat--like a wine cellar? Harrington is too long--by
>>>>the time you've asked where it is it might be too late.
>>>
>>>Leaving us with, among others, "head" and "can"--short and . . . well,
>>>sweet?
>>>
>>>Hal
>>>
>>>Halvard Johnson
>>>[log in to unmask]
>>>[log in to unmask]
>>>website: http://home.earthlink.net/~halvard
>>>blog: http://entropyandme.blogspot.com/
>>
>>--
>>M.J.Walker - no webpage, no blogspot, no idea -
>>
>> nobody dies, 'nothing happens', we call it music,
>> it is time rushing past the shabby portals of our ear
>>
>> and I am just a terrible mistake.
>>Robert Kelly
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