The term “head” is actually derived from nautical terminology. In the age of sailing ships, the toilet was located at the front (bow) of the ship for two reasons. First, it was the closest point to where waste would be dumped overboard. And second, the motion of the ship would help keep any odors from wafting back into living quarters. It wasn’t until after World War I that homes and businesses began using flush toilets similar to those found on ships.