I'm Going to Use the Head! Read carefully...
By byfaithonly
@byfaithonly (10698)
United States
May 3, 2007 6:57am CST
Ok, I am not talking about the head on my shoulders or any other part of the body. "The Head" is a military term used in several branches if not all of the US military services i.e. Navy, Air Force, Army, and Marines...
I am not posting a picture of a 'head' because it would be a dead give away as to what it is. I will give a clue though most houses today have at least one, homes nicer than mine may have several. So, here are my questions ....
Do you know what I am referring to?
If so where did you learn this term?
If not can you guess what 'the head' might be - thinklng in military terms?
15 people like this
23 responses
@texasclassygal (5305)
• United States
3 May 07
I was never in the military, and although my daughter was she would kill me if I was to call her this early in the morning since today is her day off from work. But I was a live aboard on a boat for a year and Head was always referred to a bathroom ...
am I right?
5 people like this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
3 May 07
You are correct, I first heard this term when I joined the Navy back in the mid 70s and thought it the strangest thing in the world.
You are also probably correct about not being a good idea to call your daughter on this one :)
How neat that you lived on a boat - I would love that and have often thought someday of just buying a good sized one and live traveling the waterways from port to port.
5 people like this
@texasclassygal (5305)
• United States
3 May 07
I did enjoy living on the boat, but as all good things must end so did the air conditioning about mid way through my stay on the boat which made it very uncomfortable during the day for a few months, but it was a dream of mine so I am glad I finally got to experience it.
4 people like this
@djbtol (5493)
• United States
3 May 07
Of course, you are referring to a toilet. Perfect opportunity to remind readers that are politically correct and liberal that you should restrict yourself to one square of toilet paper per visit to the 'head'.
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
3 May 07
Wow I didn't think of using this as a reminder of being conservative on toilet paper great idea though.
3 people like this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
10 May 07
I know I'm too late but I'm trying to catch up faithfully and I know the answer even without peeking at the other responses...it's the loo. I thought it was a nautical term...the head being the tiny alcove where one relieves oneself, I didn't realise it was also military and naval.
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
10 May 07
LOL - I don't think you are ever too late and think its wonderful that you are catching up, I've missed your smiling face. You are correct although here we don't call it the 'loo' I have heard that term before - I like it, maybe I'll start something new in our home for fun.
You weren't wrong with "navel" which is military but is the 'nautical' portion.
3 people like this
@WeenitsMom (492)
• United States
3 May 07
Yes, I am aware that it is a toilet, but I have no idea why. Do you?
3 people like this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
3 May 07
To tell you the truth - I have no idea where it came from but am going to check into it because the more I thought about this discussion after posting it I realized I just may get some 'bad responses'.
2 people like this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
3 May 07
Yeppers that's it, you think correctly :)
2 people like this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
3 May 07
LOL - I've also heard it called a "john" which made me wonder why on earth anyone would ever name their son John! Now I have 3 sons the first is named Shawn - a derivitive of John (a very very dear friend I owe my life to).
Thank you for this information on 'heads' I am guessing back in those days the 'facilities' were placed in the bow of the ship.
2 people like this
@kathy77 (7486)
• Australia
3 May 07
No I am sorry I do not know what you are talking about I thought that you meant that The Head could of been the head of the Military like for example who is in charge but if I am wrong I would really like to know what exactly it is
@jennybianca (12912)
• Australia
4 May 07
You have me there! Military terms are not widely used here, & I don't know what you are referring to? I guess I learn on My Lot.
@egfitz62150 (645)
• United States
3 May 07
Arrrrrr! Avast ye, mateys! 'Tis the the toilet, indeed!! WHY it's called that is still a mystery to me, though. Anyone else here know?
@CaroleeKaufold (1853)
• United States
3 May 07
yes I know, myhusband was in the Coast Guard, it is the john, the toilet
3 people like this
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
4 May 07
Yes, I know this term, and although my father and my husband were both career military as well several uncles...I first heard it when I was about 10 years old and we went with one of Dad's friends out on his yacht for the day. I thought that it was a sailor's term.
2 people like this
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
16 May 07
Hey..I knew what it was from way back when no idea where I first heard it.
But now, I get to hear it a fair amount...my son is in the Navy.
BTW - I was in the Army. There are quite a few of us women on here were in the military.
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
16 May 07
LOL - between you, sunshine who responded just before you and myself we have Amy, Air Force, and Navy women represented :)
This was funny though, last year Memorial day the Pastor asked all "service men" to stand so the church could give special recongnition to them. I felt somewhat funny but I stood up - he had said 'men' but you know what I deserved as much recognition as they did.
I was the only women to stand up and after church had dozens and dozens of people come up to me thanking me for standing too and amazed to find out I had been in the service.
1 person likes this
@sunshinelady (7609)
• United States
15 May 07
I was in the Air Force for four years and that term was used for a bathroom. I never did figure out why they just didn't call it what it was a bathroom but they didn't. I had never heard the bathroom called a head before I entered the service.
1 person likes this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
16 May 07
LOL me either, never heard it before the Navy. It does come from in the old days the facilities were at the 'head' of the ship.
1 person likes this
@compuexpert (1)
• India
4 May 07
hi dear,
there is not military terms,
it is god call for you for true site..........
you see & know it?
