Drain
/dreɪn/noun
To remove liquid from something or a channel used to carry off liquid.
Did you know?Drain ultimately comes from a Germanic root meaning “to draw,” the same ancient idea behind words for pulling, dragging, and even making water disappear from sight.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dʰer-
“to draw, pull, or carry”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*draganą
“to draw, pull along, or drag”
Old English
OE
drēahnian
“to drain off, strain out”
Old French
OF
drainer
“to drain, empty of liquid”
Middle English
ME
drainen
“to empty by drawing off liquid”
Modern English
English
drain
“to remove liquid from a place or object”