sewer

Where does the word "sewer" come from? It comes from Vulgar Latin exaquare, passing through Old French before entering English (1400s).

Sewer’s story begins in Vulgar Latin: exaquare meant “to drain water.” 'ex-' plus 'aqua', water. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as seuwiere. A sluice from a pond. It reached English by 1400s as sewer. London's Victorian sewers date from the 1860s. Today, sewer means an underground pipe carrying waste.

1. Stage 1 · Vulgar Latin · ancient exaquare "to drain water", 'ex-' plus 'aqua', water.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval seuwiere "channel for water", a sluice from a pond.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1400s sewer "drain", London's Victorian sewers date from the 1860s.