a. In 8 wash-hands. [f. WASH v. Cf. F. † lavemain(s sb., wash-hand stand, wash-hand basin.] Intended for use in washing the hands. Only in certain combinations (sometimes hyphened or written continuously as single words). a. Wash-hand basin, a basin for washing the hands. b. Wash-hand stand, a piece of furniture for holding the wash-hand basin, ewer, soap-dish, etc. c. Wash-hand table, a table serving the purpose of a wash-hand stand.
a. 1759. Phil. Trans., LI. 284. There was a small stand with a wash-hands basin on it.
1815. Scott, Guy M., xxxvi. He … ordered lights and a wash-hand basin and towel.
1878. Browning, Poets Croisic, cxi. Reach The washhand-basin for admirers!
Comb. 1871. A. Meadows, Man. Midwifery (ed. 2), 89. A large wash-hand basinfull of this hydatidiform mass.
b. 1836. Dickens, Sk. Boz, Brokers’ Shops. Rosewood chiffoniers and mahogany wash-hand-stands.
1839. W. Chambers, Tour Holland, 43/1. Wash-hand stand.
1854. Surtees, Handley Cr., xxvii. (1901), I. 204. Having deposited a can of hot water on the washhandstand.
1894. ‘R. Andom,’ We Three & Troddles, xx. 115. He bounced over to the wash-hand-stand.
attrib. 1848. Clough, Bothie, ii. 291. We return to the shop and the wash-hand-stand-bason.
1854. Surtees, Handley Cr., xii. (1901), I. 90. ’Tother night it was raining perfect washhandstandbasins full.
1881. Olive Schreiner, Story African Farm, II. iii. I left them in the wash-hand-stand drawer.
c. 1863. Gladstone, Glean. (1879), II. 204. Again, take such a jug as he would construct for the washhand-table of a garret.
