Thanks for posting your longer, more historically accurate answer. Did
anybody realize that my answer was intended as humor?

DSK

Florida Keyz wrote:



10.Why is the bathroom on a boat called the head?



Eisboch wrote:
Here's another answer that was given by a crew member of the USS
Constitution in response to a tour group question about the origin of
calling the "bathroom" the "head" :

Seems the facilities on sailing vessels such as the Constitution were
located on the main deck at the bow and consisted of rudimentary
temporary holding tanks that discharged to the ocean through holes in
the ship's bow. The bow was also commonly referred to as the "head" of
the ship in those days, leading to "I have to go to the head".

The tour guide continued to explain that since sailing vessels spend
most of the time trying to sail with the wind, it was desirable to have
the facilities in the forward part or "head" of the ship, rather than at
the stern where the wind would carry odors along the length of the ship.

Eisboch