The word bidet is derived from the French language which originally meant, "a small horse, or a pony" and dates back to 1630. It is believed that the word was originally used by the French royalty to refer to their pet ponies. This odd etymology exists because early bidets were on a stand which the user would straddle as though if they were mounting a horse.
The practice of washing with water after urination and defecation was prevalent in Islamic cultures for centuries. The history of the actual bathing bidet device may have began from the invention of French furniture makers in the late 17th or early 18th century. The exact date of the invention and the inventor is unknown. Some experts suggest that it was Christophe Des Rosiers, a furniture maker of the French Royal Family. The earliest written reference to the bathing bidet is in 1710.
During the 19th century, the Europeans developed a porcelain cleaning device for contraceptive and purgative uses. Thanks to the plumbing improvements of the Victorian era, the bidet moved from the bedroom to the bathroom.
In the 1960s the electronic bidet was introduced as an attachment that connected on to existing toilet arrangements. This was ideal for bathrooms lacking the space for both a separate bidet and toilet. Its use has evolved more into a personal cleaning device, and can be commonly found in Asian and European bathrooms.
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