On Sun, 20 May 2007 23:29:23 +0100, Bruce
wrote:

Charles Ellson wrote:
On Sun, 20 May 2007 08:30:29 +0100, Roland Perry
wrote:

In message , at 21:43:59 on
Sat, 19 May 2007, Stephen Sprunk remarked:
"Toilet" here refers to the device itself,
Same in UK.

not the room it's located in,
Dual use in the UK. Although often used in the plural as in "where are
the toilets" - eg "where is the room with the toilets in".

You Brits do the same thing with "WC"; we haven't managed to shed all
the vestiges of your prudishness, even after 231 years...
"WC" like "Public Conveniences" (which in some parts of the South USA
I've heard called "The Necessary") seems to have fallen into disuse in
the UK over the last generation, and is now rarely heard, nor seen on a
sign.

It is seen on plenty of signs, it is the prescribed symbol for use on
several varieties.

Why not just call it "the lavatory"?

1 - it would take up too much room on the above signs
2 - if you're really desperate, it takes too long to say it
3 - like a "toilet", a lavatory doesn't necessarily contain a WC or a
urinal