2006-08-24 11:45:55 · 7 answers · asked by cedarcreekkim 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
Because in the olden days it was located at the front of the ship where the figure-HEAD was located.
2006-08-24 11:47:50 · answer #1 · answered by Rockvillerich 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Head (ship's toilet)
The use of the term "head" to refer to a ship's toilet dates to at least as early as 1708, when Woodes Rogers (English privateer and Governor of the Bahamas) used the word in his book, A Cruising Voyage Around the World. Another early usage is in Tobias Smollett's novel of travel and adventure, Roderick Random, published in 1748. "Head" in a nautical sense referring to the bow or fore part of a ship dates to 1485. The ship's toilet was typically placed at the head of the ship near the base of the bowsprit, where splashing water served to naturally clean the toilet area.
Other maritime uses of the term refer to the top or forward part, such as the mast (top of the mast/masthead), and the top edge of a sail, as well as the compass direction in which the ship is pointing, etc.
2006-08-24 11:49:27 · answer #2 · answered by quatt47 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because they were place @ the front or head of the boat..the saying came to be because people would say I'm going to the head..which sounded better than I'm going to the toilet..
2006-08-24 11:59:56 · answer #3 · answered by jst4pat 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
im in the navy, and i still don't know why. the floor is called a deck, a cafeteria is galled a galley, food is called chow, wall is bulkhead, water fountain is scuttlebutt. and the list goes on and on.
2006-08-24 11:52:19 · answer #4 · answered by Lopez J 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because its fun to put peoples heads in the tiolet
2006-08-24 11:47:45 · answer #5 · answered by bub15 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
that' where traditionaly the sailors give each other head
2006-08-24 11:48:27 · answer #6 · answered by acid tongue 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
used to be in front
2006-08-24 11:51:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋