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.
--
Roland Perry

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.

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"?
--
Bruce Fletcher
Stronsay, Orkney
www.stronsay.co.uk/claremont
(Remove teeth to reply)

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

In message , at 22:18:23 on
Sun, 20 May 2007, Charles Ellson remarked:
"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.

Most new signs seem to say either "Toilet", or have the Man/Woman
symbols on them.
--
Roland Perry

On Mon, 21 May 2007 07:27:12 +0100, Roland Perry
wrote:

In message , at 22:18:23 on
Sun, 20 May 2007, Charles Ellson remarked:
"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.

Most new signs seem to say either "Toilet", or have the Man/Woman
symbols on them.

Prescribed vehicular traffic signs or (in some respects much more
variable) pedestrian signs ?

In message , at 21:10:22 on
Mon, 21 May 2007, Charles Ellson remarked:
Most new signs seem to say either "Toilet", or have the Man/Woman
symbols on them.

Prescribed vehicular traffic signs or (in some respects much more
variable) pedestrian signs ?

I wasn't really thinking about traffic signs, but I'll keep an eye out
for any locally. I'm pretty sure they say "Toilets". It was signs on
doors, and signs within buildings I had in mind.
--
Roland Perry

On Tue, 22 May 2007 07:37:00 +0100, Roland Perry
wrote:

In message , at 21:10:22 on
Mon, 21 May 2007, Charles Ellson remarked:
Most new signs seem to say either "Toilet", or have the Man/Woman
symbols on them.

Prescribed vehicular traffic signs or (in some respects much more
variable) pedestrian signs ?

I wasn't really thinking about traffic signs, but I'll keep an eye out
for any locally. I'm pretty sure they say "Toilets". It was signs on
doors, and signs within buildings I had in mind.

In those cases a "WC" does indeed seem to be the exception.

In message , at 22:23:29 on
Tue, 22 May 2007, Charles Ellson remarked:
I wasn't really thinking about traffic signs, but I'll keep an eye out
for any locally. I'm pretty sure they say "Toilets". It was signs on
doors, and signs within buildings I had in mind.

In those cases a "WC" does indeed seem to be the exception.

I've been looking out over the last few days, and everywhere does seem
to use the expression "toilets", except Swiss trains, which have a "WC"
symbol.
--
Roland Perry

On Wed, 23 May 2007 06:54:16 +0100, Roland Perry
wrote:

In message , at 22:23:29 on
Tue, 22 May 2007, Charles Ellson remarked:
I wasn't really thinking about traffic signs, but I'll keep an eye out
for any locally. I'm pretty sure they say "Toilets". It was signs on
doors, and signs within buildings I had in mind.

In those cases a "WC" does indeed seem to be the exception.

I've been looking out over the last few days, and everywhere does seem
to use the expression "toilets", except Swiss trains, which have a "WC"
symbol.

A random cyber-stroll around Europe suggests it might be more
universally understood than signing in FR/IT/DE (or Latin). ISTR my
French teacher warning that asking for the toilet in FR will often get
you directed to a bathroom with only washing facilities.