Culvert
/ˈkʌlvərt/noun
A tunnel or conduit that carries water under a road, railway, or embankment.
Did you know?Culvert is not related to any occult or magical root; it comes through Anglo-French from Latin columbaria, meaning a dove-cote or pigeon-holes, because of the arch-like openings in early structures.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
columbarium
“A dove-cote or a structure with small niches for pigeons”
Old French
OF
culvert
“A covered drain or channel”
Middle English
English
culvert
“A covered watercourse or drain under a road”
Modern English
English
culvert
“A tunnel or conduit carrying water beneath an obstacle”
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