Fountain
/ˈfaʊn.tən/noun
A natural spring or an artificial device that sends water into the air.
Did you know?English fountain comes through Old French from Latin fōns, fontis, meaning a spring or source, and that same root also lives in words tied to “foundations” and “fonts,” all pointing back to something that gives life from below.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʷʰenh₁-
“to strike, hit, or smite”
Latin
Latin
fōns, fontis
“a spring of water; a source”
Late Latin
Latin
fontāna (aqua)
“spring water; water from a spring”
Old French
Old French
fontaine
“a spring, source, or fountain”
Middle English
English
fountayne
“a spring of water; later, an ornamental water feature”
Modern English
English
fountain
“a natural spring or an artificial device that sends water into the air”