ˈwash-hand, a.
In 8 wash-hands.
[f. wash v. Cf. F. † lavemain(s n., wash-hand stand, wash-hand basin.]
Intended for use in washing the hands. Only in certain combinations (sometimes hyphened or written continuously as single words). a. wash-hand basin, a basin for washing the hands. b. wash-hand stand, a piece of furniture for holding the wash-hand basin, ewer, soap-dish, etc. c. wash-hand table, a table serving the purpose of a wash-hand stand.
| a. 1759 Phil. Trans. LI. 284 There was a small stand with a wash-hands basin on it. 1815 Scott Guy M. xxxvi, He..ordered lights and a wash-hand basin and towel. 1878 Browning Poets Croisic cxi, Reach The washhand-basin for admirers! |
| Comb. 1871 A. Meadows Man. Midwifery (ed. 2) 89 A large wash-hand basinfull of this hydatidiform mass. |
| b. 1789 J. Woodforde Diary 17 Nov. (1927) III. 153 Ben returned home about 5 o'clock with..a wash-hand Stand. 1820 G. Colman XYZ i. 10 Overset my wash-hand stand;—grop'd to bed in the dark. 1836 Dickens Sk. Boz, Brokers' Shops, Rosewood chiffoniers and mahogany wash-hand-stands. 1839 W. Chambers Tour Holland 43/1 Wash-hand stand. 1854 Surtees Handley Cr. xxvii. (1901) I. 204 Having deposited a can of hot water on the washhandstand. 1894 ‘R. Andom’ We Three & Troddles xx. 115 He bounced over to the wash⁓hand-stand. |
| attrib. 1848 Clough Bothie ii. 291 We return to the shop and the wash-hand-stand-bason. 1854 Surtees Handley Cr. xii. (1901) I. 90 'Tother night it was raining perfect wash⁓handstandbasins full. 1881 Olive Schreiner Story African Farm ii. iii, I left them in the wash-hand-stand drawer. |
| c. 1863 Gladstone Glean. (1879) II. 204 Again, take such a jug as he would construct for the washhand-table of a garret. |