Etymology Map
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Basin

3 stages from Late Latin to English.

Today it means a wide bowl; a region drained by a river

Where does the word "basin" come from? It comes from Late Latin baccinum, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
baccinum
Late Latin · ancient
"water vessel"
possibly a Gaulish word
2
Stage 2 of 3
bacin
Old French · medieval
"bowl"
a wide bowl for washing
3
Stage 3 of 3
basin
English · 1200s
"bowl"
river 'basins' date from the 1800s
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Read the full story

Basin’s story begins in Late Latin: baccinum meant “water vessel.” Possibly a Gaulish word. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as bacin. A wide bowl for washing. It reached English by 1200s as basin. River 'basins' date from the 1800s. Today, basin means a wide bowl; a region drained by a river.