Have you ever walked through a hotel, airport, restaurant, or train station and noticed a small “WC” sign instead of the more familiar “Restroom” or “Toilet”?
If you’re from the United States, those letters can seem a little mysterious. After all, what does WC have to do with a bathroom?
The answer goes back to an older term for one of the most basic fixtures in the room.
WC stands for “water closet.”
And the history behind that expression is surprisingly interesting.
What Is a “Water Closet”?
A water closet was originally a small room containing a toilet that used water to carry away waste.
The term became associated with flush toilets in the 19th century, when indoor plumbing was becoming increasingly common.
Before modern flush toilets became widespread, toilets could involve very different arrangements, including chamber pots, privies, and other sanitation systems.
The arrival of reliable indoor plumbing changed
