Loo
/luː/noun
A British informal word for a toilet or bathroom.
Did you know?The popular claim that “loo” comes from soldiers saying “Waterloo” after the 1815 battle is widely repeated, but historical evidence does not prove it.
Etymological Timeline
16th Century
French
lieu
“Place; a frequently suggested but unproven source for the later British euphemism “loo””
1815
English
Waterloo
“The Belgian battle site whose name later became part of a popular, but unverified, explanation for “loo””
Late 19th Century
English
loo
“Possibly used in euphemistic or slang contexts, though early evidence is uncertain”
1920s
English
loo
“Recorded in British English as an informal term for a lavatory or toilet”
Modern English
English
loo
“A common British, Irish, Australian, and New Zealand term for a toilet or bathroom”
Explore more surprising origins