Septic Tank
/ˈsɛp.tɪk tæŋk/noun
A tank in which sewage is decomposed by bacteria before the liquid is discharged.
Did you know?The first element, septic, comes from Greek sēptikos, meaning “causing putrefaction,” from sēpein, “to make rotten,” so the word carries an ancient biological warning built right into it.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
sēpein
“to make rotten, to putrefy”
Ancient Greek
Greek
sēptikos
“causing putrefaction; rotting”
Late 19th Century
English
septic
“relating to putrefaction or infection”
Early 20th Century
English
septic tank
“a tank for the bacterial decomposition of sewage”
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