Advertisement

Origin and history of siphon

siphon(n.)

late 14c., "water hose; tube for drawing fluid from a swelling," from Latin sipho (genitive siphonis) "a siphon," from Greek siphōn "pipe, tube for drawing wine from a cask," a technical term of unknown origin and uncertain etymology. The meaning "glass or metal tube bent so that one leg is longer, used to drain off liquid by atmospheric pressure" is from 1650s. Related: Siphonal; siphonic. In zoology, a small one is a siphuncle, and a creature that has them is siphuncled.

siphon(v.)

1859, "convey (a liquid) by means of a siphon," from siphon (n.). The figurative sense of "draw off, divert" is recorded by 1940. Related: Siphoned; siphoning; siphonage.

also from 1859

Advertisement

More to explore

diabetes
discharge of urine" (so named by Aretaeus the Cappadocian, physician of Alexandria, 2c.), literally "a passer-through, siphon...
position
late 14c., posicioun, as a term in logic and philosophy, "statement of belief, the laying down of a proposition or thesis," from Old French posicion "position, supposition" (Modern French position) and directly from Latin positionem (nominative positio) "act or fact of placing, s
put
Middle English putten, from late Old English *putian, "to thrust, push, shove" (someone or something; a sense now obsolete), also "to move or a thing physically so as to place it in some situation," implied in putung "instigation, an urging," literally "a putting;" related to pyt
set
Middle English setten, from Old English settan (transitive) "cause to sit; make or cause to rest as on a seat; cause to be put, placed, or seated;" also "put in a definite place," also "arrange, fix adjust; fix or appoint (a time) for some affair or transaction," and "cause (thou
organ
fusion of late Old English organe, and Old French orgene (12c.), both meaning "musical instrument," both from Latin organa, plural of organum "a musical instrument," from Greek organon "implement, tool for making or doing; musical instrument; organ of sense, organ of the body," l
groan
Old English granian "to utter a deep, low-toned breath expressive of grief or pain; to murmur; to lament," from Proto-Germanic *grain- (source also of Old Norse grenja "to howl"), of imitative origin, or related to grin (v.). Meaning "complain" is from early 13c., especially in M
argon
chemical element, 1894, Modern Latin, from Greek argon, neuter of argos "lazy, idle, not working the ground, living without labor," from a- "without" (see a- (3)) + ergon "work" (from PIE root *werg- "to do"). So called by its discoverers, Baron Rayleigh and Sir William Ramsay, f
takeout
also take-out, in reference to food prepared at a restaurant but not eaten there, 1941, from take (v.) + out (adv.). The British equivalent is takeaway. Earlier it meant "designed to be removed or folded away" (1908). The verbal phrase is attested from 14c., as "remove from withi
lay
"to cause to lie or rest," Old English lecgan "to place on the ground (or other surface); place in an orderly fashion," also "put down" (often by striking), from Proto-Germanic *lagojanan (source also of Old Saxon leggian, Old Norse leggja, Old Frisian ledza, Middle Dutch legghan
place
c. 1200, "space, dimensional extent, room, area," from Old French place "place, spot" (12c.) and directly from Medieval Latin placea "place, spot," from Latin platea "courtyard, open space; broad way, avenue," from Greek plateia (hodos) "broad (way)," fem. of platys "broad," from

Share siphon

Advertisement
Trending
Dictionary entries near siphon
Advertisement