People are just now realizing the meaning of the “WC” toilet sign, which stands for “water closet.” This term originated in the 1900s when homes began installing indoor plumbing, and toilets were often placed in closets. These spaces, with one of the few sources of running water in the house, became known as water closets.
While many now use the term bathroom for a room with a toilet, historically, a bathroom referred to a separate room with a bathtub. The abbreviation “WC” remains widely used to indicate a restroom with a toilet but no bath.
