washhand table

English

Alternative forms

• wash-hand table

Noun

washhand table (plural washhand tables)

1. (dated) A freestanding item of furniture with an internal water supply meant for washing one's hands.
   • 1821 June 4, A. Darling, “Inventory of furniture”, in Norwood Young, Napoleon in Exile: St. Helena (1815-1821), London: Stanley Paul & Co., published 1915, page 342:

     Do.’s Dressing-room. / 2 Mahogany wardrobes / 1 Washhand table (marble top)

   • 1833 October, William Rose, “On the Use of Slate and Cast Iron in Household Furniture”, in J. C. Loudon, editor, The Architectural Magazine, and Journal of Improvement in Architecture, Building, and Furnishing and in the Various Arts and Trades Connected Therewith, volume I, London: Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, Green, & Longman, […], published 1834, page 42:

     I have a washhand table covered with a slab of slate, 3 ft. 4 in. long, and 20 in. wide, by three fourths of an inch thick, which slab cost only 3s. 6d.

   • 1865, Mary Eyre, A Lady’s Walks in the South of France in 1863, London: Richard Bentley, […], page 112:

     Madame has provided me with a large pitcher of water, in addition to that on my washhand table, and a pancheon, or terrine as it is here called, of brown ware, which I use as a bath.

   • 1865, Llewellynn Jewitt, The Wedgwoods: Being a Life of Josiah Wedgwood; with Notices of His Works and Their Productions, Memoirs of the Wedgewood and Other Families, and a History of the Early Potteries of Staffordshire, London: Virtue Brothers and Co., […], page 138:

     Again, take such a jug as he would manufacture for the washhand table of a garret.

   • 1875, The Trial and Deposition of Mulhar Rao Gaekwar of Baroda, Bombay: […] the Bombay Gazette Steam Press, […], page 171:

     The thought occurred to me all at once, it must be the sherbet which has always disagreed with me, and I got up, went to the washhand table, took the tumbler in my band and tried to throw away the contents in order that I might not be tempted to drink it.

   • 1890 January 11, Work: An Illustrated Magazine of Practice and Theory for All Workmen, Professional and Amateur, page 684:

     Though I am struck with the ingenuity of the device for making the large panel serve as washhand table, I think it is attended with such disadvantages as make the drawer arrangement for basin much preferable—e.g., unless you leave your clothes in the press open all day to dust.

   • 1933, Statistical Appendix, Madras: […] the Superintendent, Government Press, page 11:

     […] furniture available are, one wooden sofa, two caned sofas, one big round table, two big teapoys, three small teapoys, three chairs, two punkahs, one basin stand, two teakwood tables, two washhand tables, two iron commodes, two galvanized iron tubs, two chairs, two coat stands, 37 mats, one brass basin, one copper basin.