Karzy

G'day MgGrath of Harlow,

(Posting Sunday morning ... after the 'Cat went 503 last night ...)

OK ... "Karzy" was the one alternative spelling I didn't try! (I tried "Khazi" (my most familiar spelling) - plus "kazi" (an Oriental magistrate!), "Kharzi", "Kharzy", "Kharzey" ... and "Carsey" ... which is the first citation in the OED - but didn't work in the 'headword' search!

I see they derive it from the Italian for house ... I guess that I was seduced by the belief we had a word of Eastern origin.

[Corruption of It. casa house.]    = water-closet.
   1961 Partridge Dict. Slang Suppl. 1029/1 Carsey,+a w.c. 1965 Daily Mail 2 Oct. 5/4 Where do you spend a penny? (a) Toilet+(d) Karzy. 1966 D. Francis Flying Finish ix. 118, I was in the cockpit most of the time.+ I went aft to the karzy once. 1967 J. Burke Till Death us do Part v. 84 Have you seen the carsy? Just a bucket with a seat on top. 1968 T. E. B. Clarke Trail of Serpent xiii. 122 You made a real thorough search? Everywhere? Outhouses, karzey, the lot? 1969 K. Giles Death cracks Bottle iv. 38 Apart from a working pee none of my ladies nor me got out of here. There's only one door to the carsey. 1970 G. F. Newman Sir, You Bastard 262 Visits to the karsey

Regard(les)s,

Bob