jawbox

Etymology
. In old tenements usually placed next to the kitchen window, enabling housewives to talk ("") to each other across the tenement courtyard while doing washing up.

Noun

 * 1)  A tenement sink.
 * 2) * 1983,, Cal (chapter 3, p.90 in the 1998 Vintage paperback edition)
 * After a week he had to accept that he was growing a black beard, not because he wanted one, but because he could think of no way of shaving. There was a jaw-box in the tiny kitchen but no taps.
 * After a week he had to accept that he was growing a black beard, not because he wanted one, but because he could think of no way of shaving. There was a jaw-box in the tiny kitchen but no taps.