# The Head

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-head/4274>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 28, 1999, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-head/4274 "1999-10-28T12:37:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![GasDr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ba9def/32.png) [@GasDr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GasDr)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 1999, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-head/4274/1 "1999-10-28T12:37:00Z")

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Why are toilets called ‘the head?’

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**Author:** ![Guy\_Propski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5e9695/32.png) [@Guy\_Propski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guy_Propski)\
**Post date:** [October 28, 1999, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-head/4274/2 "1999-10-28T12:40:00Z")

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It’s a nautical term. Because the front of a ship was once know as the head, and because the toilet facilities were also located there, the term became used for the toilet as well.