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A toilet is a device or construction for the disposal of bodily wastes, including urine, faeces and vomit. The word toilet can be used to refer to the toilet itself or the room containing it. The word comes from the French language, in which it also recalls the complex of the operations of body care, not only in bathroom. A piece of bedroom furniture is called toilette.

When referring to the room itself, the word toilet is often substituted with "bath room", "rest room", "mens room", "ladies room", "ladies lounge" etc. In other countries, it may be called "water closet", "water chamber" or "W.C." Toilet is not considered a polite word in the US, probably because it reminds one of the malodorous and unhygienic aspect of it. In the United Kingdom the word toilet is often used in common speech, although the word lavatory is considered more polite. Many euphemisms are also also used such as karsi, bog, lav, loo, gents/ladies and a number of more vulgar names.

There are many different types of toilets around the world. There are also many different ways to clean yourself after you are finished using the toilet. A lot depends on national mores and local resources.

For a web site with the history of this device see http://www.plumbingworld.com/toilethistoryindia.html

There are many different types of toilet:

• Squat toilet
• Chemical toilet
• Flush toilet
• Toilet with built-in bidet
• Urinal
• Wall and gutter type urinal
• Big bath tub style urinal as in sport stadium mens room

Bibliography

Temples of Convenience - And Chambers of Delight by Lucinda Lambton

See also:

• Toilet humour