The Queen's English

[Eva Elisabeth]

I oversaw the "mangler" - it's a "Mangel" in German, and laundries still offer to "mangeln" your clothes after washing, which actually means to press them in a rotary iron. And in my childhood "Omnibus" was still commonly used for what is now just a "Bus". "Omnibus" is Latin (dative plural of "omnis", "everyone") and just means "for all".

An earth closet I suppose is simply the old Roman latrine, a hole with a plank to sit on for the same needs as a WC. And a bellyband might be a decorative piece of male clothing ("Bauchbinde", thus literally the same, in German - a variety of a sash, "Schärpe"), worn (e.g. at weddings, or by an orchestra conductor) instead of a belt. It's broader and made of fine fabric, like the one worn by this gentleman:
   

Re: "What were the two main sources of sustenance for the average Brit during the first half of the 19th century?" - if it was the Irish, I'd guess potatoes. So I'll guess a corn or flour product (bread?), and, as the sea is near everywhere, and there are many rivers where it's not, and fishing is for free - maybe fish?

This task is great fun, Laurie!