Spigot
/ˈspɪɡ.ət/noun
A tap or valve used to control the flow of liquid from a container or pipe.
Did you know?The word is tied to a practical old-world image of plugging a cask with a wooden peg, and its history shows how everyday English often grew out of brutal, physical tools rather than abstract ideas.
Etymological Timeline
Modern English
English
spigot
“A tap or stopper for controlling liquid flow.”
18th Century
English
spigot
“A plug or faucet, especially on a cask or barrel.”
17th Century
English
spigot
“A wooden peg or pin used to stop a hole in a vessel.”
Middle French
French
espigot
“A small peg or pin.”
Latin
Latin
spica
“An ear of grain; a pointed spike or stalk.”
Explore more surprising origins