Why Small Bathrooms Are Known As Powder Rooms

Why Small Bathrooms Are Known As Powder Rooms

Linguist Patrick Foote of Name Explain recounted the origins of the term “powder room” and how it came to be particularly analogous with small bathrooms that are usually out of the way. It turns out that in the 18th century, both men and women wore powdered wigs, and these rooms were used to freshen them up in private. When indoor plumbing became a thing, these rooms were turned into bathrooms, however the name stuck. It’s often stereotypically…