1530s, earliest in English in an obsolete sense "cover or bag for clothes," from Middle French toilette "a cloth; a bag for clothes," diminutive of toile "cloth, net" (see toil (n.2)). Toilet acquired an association with upper class dressing by 18c., through the specific sense "a fine cloth cover on the dressing table for the articles spread upon it;" thence "the articles, collectively, used in dressing" (mirror, bottles, brushes, combs, etc.). Subsequent sense evolution in English (mostly following French uses) is to "act or process of dressing," especially the dressing and powdering of the hair (1680s); then "a dressing room" (1819), especially one with a lavatory attached; then "lavatory or porcelain plumbing fixture" (1895), an American euphemistic use.
Toilet paper is attested from 1884 (the Middle English equivalent was arse-wisp). Toilet training is recorded from 1940.
双语例句
1. The original kitchen was sandwiched between the breakfast room and the toilet.
厨房最初夹在早餐厅和厕所之间。
来自柯林斯例句
2. The toilet was full to the brim with insects.
厕所里爬满了虫子。
来自柯林斯例句
3. She made Tina flush the pills down the toilet.
她让蒂娜把药丸扔进马桶里冲走。
来自柯林斯例句
4. He was found trying to flush banknotes down the toilet.