Edit: it's a common word in Italy, but it's Latin. It is derived from Lavabo inter innocentes manus meas et circumdabo altare tuum, Domine "I shall wash my hands amongst innocents, O Lord, and so shall I go to Thine altar."
I've always known this word in connection with barbering, since I first heard it in a performance of Sweeney Todd:
"His needs were few, his room was bare. A lavabo and a fancy chair. A mug of suds and a leather strop, An apron, a towel, a pail and a mop.
For neatness he deserved a nod, Did Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street."
Incidentally, you won't hear this song in the recent Tim Burton movie version because he and Sondheim decided to cut the prologue chorus for various dramatic and cinematic reasons. I respect the decision, but I was still bitterly disappointed, because it is an amazing number, complete with melodic quotations of the dies irae chant.
Thanks, frindley. I feel better now. :-)
Edit: it's a common word in Italy, but it's Latin. It is derived from
Lavabo inter innocentes manus meas et circumdabo altare tuum, Domine
"I shall wash my hands amongst innocents, O Lord, and so shall I go to Thine altar."
They retained the melodic motifs – you hear these in some of the connecting orchestral music – but the song itself isn't heard.
What? I love that song!
I've always known this word in connection with barbering, since I first heard it in a performance of Sweeney Todd:
"His needs were few, his room was bare.
A lavabo and a fancy chair.
A mug of suds and a leather strop,
An apron, a towel, a pail and a mop.
For neatness he deserved a nod,
Did Sweeney Todd,
The Demon Barber of Fleet Street."
Incidentally, you won't hear this song in the recent Tim Burton movie version because he and Sondheim decided to cut the prologue chorus for various dramatic and cinematic reasons. I respect the decision, but I was still bitterly disappointed, because it is an amazing number, complete with melodic quotations of the dies irae chant.
It's an Italian word.
Weirdnet is very weird today.
"A stone basin for the washing of hands," according to my online castle terms glossary.