c.1200, trone, "the seat of God or a saint in heaven;" c.1300 as "seat occupied by a sovereign," from Old French trone (12c., Modern French trône), from Latin thronus, from Greek thronos "elevated seat, chair, throne," from PIE root *dher- (2) "to hold firmly, support" (cognates: Latin firmus "firm, steadfast, strong, stable," Sanskrit dharma "statute, law;" see firm, adj.). From late 14c. as a symbol of royal power. Colloquial meaning "toilet" is recorded from 1922. The classical -h- begins to appear in English from late 14c.