little boys' room

See also: little boy's room, and little boys room

English

Alternative forms

• little boy's room, little boys room

Etymology

Originally from the need to find public lavatories for children, but subsequently used more broadly.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

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Noun

little boys' room (plural little boys' rooms)

1. (euphemistic, informal) Synonym of men's room: a public lavatory intended for use by men.

   Excuse me, where is the little boys' room? My son is about to burst a bladder.

   • 1934 August 18, Liberty, page 40:

     He accidentally locked himself in the ca—in the little boys' room.

   • 1938 November 25, Princeton Alumni Weekly, page 209:

     The first [sc. cartoon], representing a very young chap seeking directions to the little boys' room in the Metropolitan Museum, prompted the management to frame it and hang it in the aforesaid room.

2. A room belonging to or used by little boys, particularly their bedroom.

Synonyms

• See Thesaurus:bathroom

Coordinate terms

• little girls' room

References

• "little boy, n. and adj." in the Oxford English Dictionary (2014), Oxford: Oxford University Press.