Dictionary

gentlemen's en · NOUN

Etymology

Ellipsis of gentlemen's room, originally a waiting room for men but by the first attestation of gentlemen's in general use as a euphemism for a men's lavatory.

Meanings

1. possessive case of gentlemen: belonging to some or all gentlemen.
2. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis, euphemistic, informal) Ellipsis of men's room: a lavatory intended for use by men.
   alt of men's room
   • "I tell you what I must do, is to telephone. Where is it?" "D'you mean really the telephone or the gentlemen's?" 1934, Evelyn Waugh, chapter III, in Handful of Dust, page 117:
   • A gents' toilet room might be found in a house that caters for the cheaper class of theatrical patronage, where the slangy language of the "goin' to the mat this aft?" style prevails. A gents toilet room is not found in the Southern Hotel. It either "men's" or "gentlemen's". 1898, The Hotel/Motor Hotel Monthly, volume 6, page 27:
   • Over on that platform's the general waiting-room,... and over there's the Gentlemen's, and, any'ow, everythink's written up. 1933, James Ian Arbuthnot Frazer as "Shamus Frazer", Acorned Hog, page 78:

Forms

Coordinates

ladies'

Synonyms

shield · closet of decency · withdraught · john · brasco · latrine · netty · lavvy · necessary room · johnny · bathroom · usual offices · comfort room · place · geography · six · toilet room · cludgie · privy · necessary place · necessary · neddy · House of Lords · closet · shitter · facilities · urinal · jacques · carsey · lats · kocay · house of office · smallest room · potty · amenities · jacks · toilet · teahouse · urination station · office · small room · water closet · crapper · lavatory · vault · karzy · can · CR · ladies and gentlemen · khazi · jakes · cloaca · cottage · dike · bogger · lav · purging place · thunderbox · throne room · loo · WC · bog · closet of ease · necessarium · restroom · tearoom · dunny · siege · washroom · office of ease · wardrobe · lavabo