'washbasin' originates from the combination of 'wash' and 'basin', where 'wash' meant 'to clean with water' and 'basin' referred to a 'bowl for washing'.

'washbasin' evolved from the Old English word 'wæsc' (wash) and 'bæsen' (basin), eventually becoming the modern English word 'washbasin'.

Initially, it meant 'a bowl for washing', and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.