Etymology Map
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Sewer

3 stages from Vulgar Latin to English.

Today it means an underground pipe carrying waste

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

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

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.