wash-hand stand
Noun: A piece of furniture, typically a small table or stand, designed to hold a basin and a pitcher of water for the purpose of washing one's hands and face. This term is primarily used in British English and refers to a common household item before the widespread installation of indoor plumbing with sinks.
This noun is used to refer to the specific furniture item. It is a countable noun. * In the 19th century, a wash-hand stand was an essential piece of bedroom furniture. * The antique wash-hand stand in the corner still held the original porcelain basin and jug.
- The term is historical and evokes a specific period (e.g., Victorian or Edwardian eras) when such furniture was commonplace. It is rarely used to describe modern bathroom vanities or sinks.
- It can be used attributively (like an adjective) to describe other related items, e.g., (referring to the matching basin, pitcher, and sometimes soap dish).
- Washstand: A more common and modern synonym, used in both British and American English.
- Basin stand: Another descriptive term for the same piece of furniture.
- Ewer and basin: This phrase refers specifically to the pitcher () and bowl () set that would be placed on the wash-hand stand, rather than the furniture itself.
- Washstand
- Basin stand
- Lavatory stand (archaic)
This term has only one specific meaning: the furniture item. It is a compound noun formed from "wash," "hand," and "stand," literally meaning a stand for washing one's hands. It does not refer to the act of washing or to a modern bathroom sink unit.
- furniture consisting of a table or stand to hold a basin and pitcher of water for washing: `wash-hand stand' is a British term