I have learned to never take anything for granted. Why? Because I was recently asked what "WC" means. A client had seen a "WC" sign on a recent trip and was stumped by its meaning. I thought everyone knew what it meant. I was wrong. To avoid making that mistake again, I'll explain.
WC stands for "Water Closet." It references a toilet. This is not to be mistaken with a bathroom, however. A bathroom indicates a room that includes not only a toilet, but a facility in which to take a bath (or shower), too.
Why is a toilet sometimes refered to as a Water Closet in Europe? There are so many guesses, including:
- Long ago, the first plumbed bathrooms were no bigger than a closet.
- It references the small rooms connected to natural water sheds (rivers) that washed away waste.
- Most homes had only one small room with running water.
- Hundreds of years ago, it was considered vulgar to refer to it as a toilet.
- The first indoor toilets were placed in closets.
Which is closest to the truth? I honestly don't know. Do you?