Plumbing
/ˈplʌmɪŋ/noun
The system or work of pipes, fixtures, and fittings used to carry water and waste.
Did you know?The word traces back to Latin *plumbum* “lead,” because Roman water systems often used lead pipes, so the name of the metal became the name of the trade.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pleu-
“to flow”
Latin
Latin
plumbum
“lead, the heavy metal”
Late Latin
Latin
plumbārius
“a worker dealing with lead; plumber”
Old French
Old French
plombier
“lead-worker, plumber”
Middle English
English
plombing
“the work of a plumber; lead work”
Modern English
English
plumbing
“the system or work of pipes and fixtures”