Subwoofer
/ˈsʌbˌwuːfər/noun
A loudspeaker designed to reproduce very low-frequency bass sounds.
Did you know?The word “woofer” comes from “woof,” an English sound-symbolic term for a deep, muffled noise—not from dogs, although the association helped make the name memorable.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*upo
“Under, up from beneath, or upward from below; an ancient root connected with the later prefix sub-.”
Classical Latin
Latin
sub
“Under, beneath, or secretly; a highly productive prefix meaning “below” or “under.””
Old English
Old English
wōf
“A deep, muffled sound or roar; the source of the sound-symbolic word later spelled woof.”
15th–16th Century
English
woof
“A deep, resonant sound, especially a low vocal or animal noise; its sound imitates the noise it describes.”
1930s
English
woofer
“A loudspeaker intended to reproduce low-frequency sounds; formed from woof with the agent suffix -er.”
20th Century
English
subwoofer
“A specialized woofer designed to reproduce frequencies below the normal range of ordinary loudspeakers.”