Matters lavatorial

[Numbers]

What's the derivation of the Australian term 'dunny'? It never really struck me until visiting a public convenience in Wales once and reading 'Dynion' over the door, which would be pronounced as 'dunnion' to English ears. Another one for the venerable QM?

[Quizmonster]

In 18th century England, a 'dunnakin' was a toilet, probably based on 'dung' and 'ken', slang for a house. It is not certain, but that is believed to be the source of 'dunny'.

[firefly]

Ken is possibly here as slang for outhouse, not an actual house, and is probably where kennel is derived, as well as 'the can'.

[Quizmonster]

18th century 'dung-house' is just the equivalent of the modern-day phrase we sometimes use when referring to a bulky, rugby-player type man...ie that he is "built like a brick outhouse", except that we don't say "out"!

'Ken' meant 'house' in the general sense as long ago as the 1500s, particularly one in which thieves and vagabonds lived. Such a reputation for insalubrity/disreputability obviously made it an easy choice when it was later needed to refer to a toilet.