Pothole
/ˈpɒt.hoʊl/noun
A bowl-shaped hole or depression, especially one in a road surface.
Did you know?Unlike words such as *mortgage* or *disaster*, *pothole* is a straightforward modern compound, not a hidden curse-word relic or ancient ritual term.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
pott
“a pot or vessel”
Old English
OE
hol
“a hollow, cavity, or hole”
Middle English
ME
pot hole
“a hole or cavity shaped like a pot”
18th–19th Century
English
pothole
“a hole or depression in the ground or road surface”
Modern English
English
pothole
“a road cavity caused by wear, weather, and traffic”