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Added 6 October 2026

john

/ˈd͡ʒɑn/ noun

In Latin: scortātor Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about john at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A prostitute's client.
A device or place for urination and defecation: now usually a toilet or lavatory, but also a chamber pot or outhouse.
A Western man traveling in East Asia.

Origin

From the male given name John (q.v.), whose ubiquity led to extensive use of the name in generic contexts. Its use for toilets derives from John and Cousin John, which both probably relate to jacques and jakes, used in equivalent senses by the British and Irish.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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