loo

Noun

loo (plural loos)

1. (UK, Ireland, Commonwealth) A lavatory: a room used for urination and defecation.
   • 1940, Nancy Mitford, chapter II, in Pigeon Pie, page 27:

     I suppose it is unreal because we have been expecting it [sc. World War II] for so long now, and have known that it must be got over before we can go on with our lives. Like in the night when you want to go to the loo and it is miles away down a freezing cold passage and yet you know you have to go down that passage before you can be happy and sleep again.

   • 2006, Garth Thompson et al., The Guide′s Guide to Guiding, 3rd edition, page 160:

     Ensure that the tents are well-sited and clean, rubbish bins empty, and that the loos have toilet paper.

2. (UK, Ireland, Commonwealth) A toilet: a fixture used for urination and defecation.
   • 2009, Katharina Kane, Lonely Planet: The Gambia and Senegal, page 275:

     The lack of running water in rural areas often makes Western-style loos hygienic disasters. Suddenly the noncontact squat toilet doesn′t look like such a bad option any more (as long as you roll up your trouser legs).

   • 2010, Meegan Jones, Sustainable Event Management, page 206:

     Waterless urinals are a great way of keeping the guys out of the cubicle toilets, keeping the urine separated from the solid waste (when using composting loos) and reducing water consumption if you have flush loos.

Interjection

loo

1. A cry to urge on hunting dogs.
   • c. 1603–1606, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of King Lear”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene xi]:

     Edg. Pilicock sate on pelicocks hill, a lo lo lo.

Verb

loo (third-person singular simple present loos, present participle looing, simple past and past participle looed)

1. (now dialect, used with at, upon or infinitive) To urge on with cries of loo or (figuratively) by other shouting or outcry.
   • 1667, John Denham, Directions to a Painter‎, ll. 21 f:

     And therefore next uncouple either Hound [sc. George Monck and Prince Rupert],
     And loo them at two Hares ere one be found.

Noun

loo (uncountable)

1. Alternative form of lanterloo: the card game.
   • 1675, [William] Wycherley, The Country-wife, a Comedy, […], London: Printed for Thomas Dring, […], →OCLC; republished London: Printed for T[homas] Dring, and sold by R. Bentley, and S. Magnes […], 1688, →OCLC, epilogue:

     And my Intreagues ſo baſhfully diſown / That they may doubted be by few or none, / May kiſs the Cards at Picque, Hombre,—Lu, / And ſo be taught to kiſs the Lady too; [...]

   • 1712 May, [Alexander Pope], “The Rape of the Locke. An Heroi-comical Poem.”, in Miscellaneous Poems and Translations. […], London: […] Bernard Lintott […], →OCLC, canto III:

     Ev'n mighty Pam that Kings and Queens o'erthrew,
     And mow'd down Armies in the Fights of Lu.

   • 1731, Jonathan Swift, To Dr. Helsham, 16:

     Yet, ladies are seldom at ombre or lue sick.

   • 1813 January 27, [Jane Austen], chapter VIII, in Pride and Prejudice: […], volume I, London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 80:

     On entering the drawing-room, she found the whole party at loo.

2. The penalty paid to the pool in lanterloo for breaking certain rules or failing to take a trick.
3. An act that prompts such a penalty.
4. A game of lanterloo.
5. (figuratively) Any group of people.

Verb

loo (third-person singular simple present loos, present participle looing, simple past and past participle looed)

1. (transitive) To beat in the card game lanterloo.
   • 1847, Henry Cockton, The Love Match, page 232:

     He was seldom indeed without two good trumps, and therefore almost invariably loo'd those who stood.

2. To pay a penalty to the pool for breaking certain rules or failing to take a trick in lanterloo.
3. (figurative, now dialect) To pay any penalty to any community.

Noun

loo (plural loos)

1. (fashion, obsolete) A half-mask, particularly (historical) those velvet half-masks fashionable in the 17th century as a means of protecting women's complexion from the sun.
   • a. 1685, Mary Evelyn, “The Fop-dictionary”, in Mundus Muliebris, page 18:

     Loo Mask. An half Mask.

Noun

loo

1. (India) A hot dust-bearing wind found in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and the Punjab.
   • 1888, Rudyard Kipling, “The Man Who Would Be King”, in The Phantom 'Rickshaw and Other Tales, page 78:

     It was a pitchy black night, as stifling as a June night can be, and the loo, the red-hot wind from the westward, was booming among the tinder-dry trees and pretending that the rain was on its heels.

Noun

loo (plural loos)

1. (US, military, slang) A lieutenant.
   • 2012, J. D. Robb, New York to Dallas, Penguin, →ISBN, page 91:

     I asked my loo to let me escort you in. I wanted a moment to thank you personally.” “There's no need.” “So you said before, but there is. And was. I'll take you in to Lieutenant Ricchio.”

Derived terms

• Almelo
• Ermelo
• Hengelo
• Het Loo
• Mierlo
• Twello
• Venlo
• Waterloo

Related terms

• Ansloo, Anslo (“Oslo”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [lôː]

Pronoun

lóo

1. Alternative form of lowo

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [lôː]

Pronoun

lóo

1. Alternative form of lowo