lavabo

Meaning

1. A ritual involving the washing of one's hands at a church's offertory before handling the Eucharist.
2. The small towel used to dry the priest's hands following the ritual.
3. A washbasin, particularly (Christianity) the one in a church used in the ritual.
4. A trough used for washing at some medieval monasteries.
5. (euphemistic, humorous) A lavatory: a room used for urination and defecation.

Synonyms

handbasin

washbasin

washbowl

wash-hand basin

lavatory

sink

Translations

lavabo

lavabo

lavabo

φυάλη αγιασμού

lavandino

pia

الاغتسال

Lavabo

gibrell

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ləˈveɪbəʊ/

Etymology

From the Christian ritual, which was traditionally accompanied in Catholicism by a recitation of Psalm 25:6 (Psalm 26:6, in the Hebrew and in most modern translations) which in Latin begins with the word lavābō (“I will wash”). The sense of "room with a toilet" developed under the influence of lavatory and lav.