2007-03-25 14:53:57 · 6 answers · asked by douglas m 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Boats & Boating
On old ships, they didn't have bathrooms. If a man had to urinate, he flopped it over the edge and did so in the water. But off course he'd fall off backward if he tried to do that with his rear end. We would walk up to the front of the ship, where the mermaid's "head" was and sit in the net, using the restroom. If would sail into the water.
The term "head" comes from the mermaid at the front of a ship where the men would use the bathroom.
2007-03-25 14:58:36 · answer #1 · answered by Lost Finding 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sailors had a hole in the bow sprit to use as a bathroom. Since it was the bow of the boat. The term head came out of it.
2007-03-26 17:20:08 · answer #2 · answered by David A 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The pointy end of the vessel is called the 'Head'. Non-rated men were quartered 'forward of the mast'.
The head was the natural place for them to answer nature as the bow-wave and spray would aid in keeping it clean.
The Officers quartered in the back, 'stern', of the vessel. They had much more convenient facilities as the stern portion, 'Poop Cabin' is the section that overhangs the water. It's roof is the 'Poop Deck'.
I haven't seen it confirmed by it would seem natural for the term 'Poop' and the 'Poop Cabin' to be related.
2007-03-26 12:45:07 · answer #3 · answered by Caretaker 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is also a head in regards to the sail which is: the top edge of a four sided sail or the top corner of a triangular sail.
2007-03-25 22:01:10 · answer #4 · answered by vtskigirl417 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well the Head is the toilet/bathroom on a boat, however i don't know the origin of it and as of right now, i am much too lazy to bother to look it up.
try using yahoo's superior competitor.....GOOGLE.
2007-03-25 21:57:14 · answer #5 · answered by Greg O 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
meaning "toilet" is from 1748, based on location of crew toilet in the bow (or head) of a ship.
- from Online Etymology dictionary
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=head&searchmode=none
2007-03-25 21:59:54 · answer #6 · answered by $Sun King$ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋