gents en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈdʒɛnts/ (UK)
Etymology
A clipped form of gentlemen. As a room, via misspelling of gents', a clipped form of gentlemen's room.
Meanings
-
(form-of, plural) plural of gent
form of gent
-
(UK, euphemistic, informal) A men's room: a lavatory intended for use by men.
Where is the gents? I need a slash.
One unidentified man spoke of how he was approached to "go to the Gents" with an MP at an event for young political activists while another man described how an MP invited his entire office staff to a gay bar.
2014 April 11, Charlotte Meredith, “The Palace of Sexminster”, in Huffington Post: United Kingdom: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:London's first 'gents' public toilets were opened in Fleet Street in 1851, followed in 1852 by a 'ladies' toilet at 51 Bedford Street, Strand.
2000, Munroe Blair, Ceramic Water Closets, page 15:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| gents | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| Gents | alternative | lexicographic |
Coordinates
ladies (all senses)