loo

¹

[loo]

noun

plural

loos 

1. a card game in which forfeits are paid into a pool.

2. the forfeit or sum paid into the pool.

3. the fact of being looed.

verb (used with object)

looed, looing 

1. to subject to a forfeit at loo.

loo

²

[loo]

noun

British Informal.

plural

loos 

1. toilet.

loo

³

[loo]

verb (used with or without object)

Chiefly Northern U.S.

looed, looing ,

plural

loos .

1. low.

loo

⁴

[loo]

noun

plural

loos , looed, looing .

1. Scots.,  love.

loo

¹

/ luː /

noun

1. a gambling card game

2. a stake used in this game

loo

²

/ luː /

noun

1. an informal word for lavatory

loo

³

/ luː /

verb

1. a variant spelling of lou

Word History and Origins

Origin of loo¹

First recorded in 1665–75; short for lanterloo, from Dutch lanterlu, from French lantur(e)lu, a special use of a meaningless refrain of an old song

Origin of loo²

First recorded in 1935–40; of uncertain origin; perhaps from French lieux (d'aisances) “latrines, toilets,” literally, “places of ease”; perhaps a pun on the place name Waterloo, based on water closet

Word History and Origins

Origin of loo¹

C17: shortened form of lanterloo, via Dutch from French lanterelu, originally a meaningless word from the refrain of a popular song

Origin of loo²

C20: perhaps from French lieux d'aisance water closet

Example Sentences

"Close the toilet door and have a bit of separation - by all means have a joint project but that shouldn't be going to the loo," she laughs.

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Unlike a wearable, which is easy enough to leave on your nightstand, the loo is something you can’t forget to use.

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Straining on the loo or feeling like you haven't fully emptied your bowels may also be signs of constipation - but these aren't the only ones.

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The head of the production company behind hit TV drama Adolescence has joked that they won so many Emmys it was nearly impossible to even make a trip to the loo during the ceremony.

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"My wife was pretty cross when I first said I bought it, she said she would stay once it had a flushing loo, which is pretty reasonable."

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