Different names for bathrooms are used around the world. In reality, bathrooms have more than one name in several nations. Consider the United Kingdom, where there are numerous terms used to describe public restrooms. While some refer to it as a toilet, others call it a restroom.
Though quite a few of the island nation’s public restrooms are marked with WC toilet signs, it seems that very few people actually understand what it means. And if it weren’t for the efforts of a TikTok user who responded to a follower who asked him what WC stood for, we might have been left in the dark forever. Over 3,500 people watched the video, and the social media user imparted some knowledge to the rest of us.
Before indoor plumbing, we actually had a room for the restroom, according to the TikToker. The spout, however, was outside. Water had to be heated before being heatedly carried inside and poured into the bathtub. Where do you put the toilet when indoor plumbing is introduced and the bathroom already has a bath? The simplest place to install a toilet is in a closet. The TikToker then revealed that the WC sign on the restroom was actually an acronym for the water closet.
Unsurprisingly, despite the fact that the sign has been in use since the 1870s, this discovery sparked a lot of debate and astonished reactions from the public. Someone said, “I’m glad someone asked because I’ve been wondering about this for years but never googled it.” Another user said, “Can’t believe I’ve been living with a WC sign and had no idea why it was called WC.” “I was 23 years old when I learned that WC is called a water closet,” chimed in a third person. Another person responded, “I know what a water closet is, but don’t use it (don’t use the word- do use the WC.)” as a result.
Some users were simply shocked to learn that there were people in every country who were unfamiliar with the complete format of the WC toilet sign. One user said, “I’ve known this since I was 13?” Others made fun of the statement, saying, “Convinced I live in LA because of the levels of common sense in the UK, or lack thereof.” A third person commented, “What? Who is unaware of this?
Did you know what the WC symbol on the restroom meant? Comment below and let us know!
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