The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #106923   Message #2213551
Posted By: GUEST,Billy
11-Dec-07 - 09:57 PM
Thread Name: Gardyloo - folk music magazine
Subject: RE: Gardyloo
Just to introduce an explanation of the term "Gardyloo". It came from Scotland, particularly Edinburgh, before the introduction of flush toilets. The denizens of that fine city would kindly shout "Gardyloo!" to warn fellow citizens in the narrow, cobbled streets below that they were about to throw the contents of their shit buckets out of the window.
The term is a corruption of the French "Gare de l'eau" (beware of the water).
How considerate of them.