I came across this AskOxford explanation about other French origins:

http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexper...ordorigins/loo

Jim

Scott Dorsey wrote:
> Space Cowboy > wrote:
> >And I thought 'loo' was Cantonese till I found out it was British.
>
> Actually it's French, from "le lieu Anglais."
> --scott
>
>
> --
> "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."