Filter
/ˈfɪl.tər/noun
A device or material that removes unwanted substances from a liquid, gas, or signal.
Did you know?Filter comes through Old French from a Germanic word for felt, because early filters were literally made from felt cloth used to strain liquids.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*feltaz
“felt, matted wool cloth”
Old French
OF
filtre
“a filtering cloth or straining device”
Middle English
ME
filter
“a cloth or material for straining liquid”
Modern English
English
filter
“a device or process that removes unwanted material or information”