pump

Where does the word "pump" come from? It comes from Middle Dutch pompe, passing through Middle English before entering English (1600s).

Pump’s story begins in Middle Dutch: pompe meant “pipe, ship's pump.” Probably imitative of the sound of pumping; Dutch ships needed them constantly to clear bilge water. By 1400s, the word had taken hold in Middle English as pumpe. First recorded as a ship's pump. It reached English by 1600s as pump. The verb 'pump someone for information' dates from the 1600s. Today, pump means a device that forces liquid or gas to move; to move with such a device.

1. Stage 1 · Middle Dutch · medieval pompe "pipe, ship's pump", probably imitative of the sound of pumping; Dutch ships needed them constantly to clear bilge water.
2. Stage 2 · Middle English · 1400s pumpe "ship's pump", first recorded as a ship's pump.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1600s pump "a device for moving liquid", the verb 'pump someone for information' dates from the 1600s.