The Etymology of ‘Lavatory’
What exactly does ‘lavatory’ mean? The answer is – it depends on both the location and point in history. The word has a surprising, and confusing, number of meanings. Beginning with today in North America, a lavatory is more often than not a word for a bathroom, although not commonly used in the United States. The Oxford English Dictionary defines lavatory as, “A room or compartment with a toilet and a washbasin.” In Great Britain today, a lavatory more commonly refers to the toilet itself and not the room. When there were toilets that flushed and some that didn’t, a lavatory was a flushing toilet. Merriam-Webster defines lavatory as simply a vessel for washing. In fact, in many parts of the world, ‘lavatory’ refers to the wash basin and not the toilet or the room either are in. Read on to find out where the word came from and why.
Once Upon a Time…
The word ‘lavatory’ comes from the Latin suffix, ‘ionem’ (referring to a person performing an action) and the Latin word ‘lavare’ (to wash) creating the word ‘lavatorium’ in Late Latin (LL), around 1325. It referred to a vessel for washing. In a religious setting, ‘Lavabo’ was a washbasin used in churches to wash before taking the Eucharist.
Synonyms for Lavatory
Books could, and probably have, been written to hold the words we use to mean a room with a toilet. ‘Restroom’ is an interesting one because it avoids referring to the toilet or washing at all! A bedroom would more likely be referred to as a restroom by many, logically speaking. The North American use of the word ‘bathroom’ confused British travelers in the past due to the fact that a bathroom doesn’t necessarily have a bathtub in it and public bathrooms never do. In British English a loo refers to both the toilet and the bathroom. The bathroom or lavatory (depending on how you want to look at it) has been called the head, a practice that originated in ships because of the room’s location at the head of the ship. Another common term, at least in architectural drawings, is the water closet. This term came from around 1870, when bathrooms were called wash-down closets.
Pioneer’s Lavatory Faucets
You may notice that Pioneer and the Pioneer family which includes Central Brass and Olympia, have several faucets that are called lavatory faucets. In our use of the word, we’re being specific – these faucets are for use with a sink that is not in a kitchen. For fun, here are some of our most popular lavatory faucets!
Top 3 Lavatory Faucets from Pioneer
1. Pioneer Two Handle Lavatory Widespread Faucet, Model# 3CB320
This faucet’s gorgeous metal lever handles have a graceful bend and a three-hole placement. The style is transitional, yet can lean towards either traditional or modern. It’s not overly ornate, nor is it minimalist. The faucet strikes that very desirable ‘just right’ spot in bathroom design. It’s water-conscious as well and built with a ceramic disc cartridge for smooth and reliable functionality. Yes, it’s both beautiful and hardy.
2. Olympia Two Handle Lavatory Widespread Faucet, Model# L-74223
From Olympia i2’s newest line, the textured (knurled) wheel design on the two handles of this incredible faucet give it an updated timelessness that is incomparable in the market today. It comes in four different striking finishes – matte black, chrome, brushed nickel, and today’s hottest color, gold. The gooseneck design works with vessel sinks as well as standard ones, and the faucet’s easy-install mounting nut is very convenient.
3. Pioneer Two Handle Lavatory Faucet, Model# 3MO102
From Pioneer’s Mod line comes a small-footprint faucet that might be small, but is still mighty. Its design is striking like the rest of the Mod line. The faucet is angular and bold to fit in perfectly with a modern or minimalist bathroom design. It has a three-hole installation pattern, but all three are connected, making it a great choice for covering marks from prior installations when replacing a faucet. Its ceramic disc cartridges are rugged and hold up beautifully to daily use.
Wrapping it All Up
The lavatory has had a wild ride over the centuries. From a bowl that holds water to a toilet that flushes, the word lavatory has been flexible, to say the least. For us, we focus on the washing portion as that is what we do best. Pioneer, Olympia, and Central Brass bring more than a century of combined experience to the faucet and shower industry, and boast a best-in-the-industry warranty on our products. We’ve been trusted by industry professionals and homeowners alike for a reason. Let us show you what that is.
We’ll Save You Money and Time
There are many ways to the same destination. This saying applies to multifamily housing builds just as much as to anything else in life. The ultimate goal is save as much money as possible while delivering a great finished project – that’s simply showing smart business sense. But, finding a one-off deal or sacrificing quality isn’t the only way to get a healthy ROI. We have a better way.
Pioneer works with professionals every day to develop specification packages and plans that save our valued partners both time and money, sometimes in surprising ways. It’s our goal to ensure your project meets or exceeds its expected outcome. We want to get to know you and your company and show you how we can save you money. Please reach out via our website form or call us at (800) 338-9468.
Consider choosing these great lavatory faucets from Pioneer and the Pioneer family of products, Central Brass and Olympia. All are backed with a best-in-the-industry warranty, are easy to install and will look great in your bathroom.
