Tanker
/ˈtæŋ.kər/noun
A ship, truck, or aircraft designed to carry liquids or gases in bulk.
Did you know?The core word *tank* entered English from Portuguese or Malay via colonial contact, originally referring to a cistern or reservoir, so *tanker* is literally the carrier of a container-word.
Etymological Timeline
17th-18th Century
Portuguese/Malay
tanque / tangki
“A cistern, reservoir, or water storage vessel.”
18th Century
English
tank
“A storage container or artificial pool for liquids.”
19th Century
English
tank
“An armored military vehicle, so named because it was first used as a secret code for the new weapon.”
19th Century
English
-er
“An agentive suffix forming nouns meaning 'one that does' or 'one that uses'.”
Late 19th Century
English
tanker
“A vessel or vehicle designed to transport liquids in bulk.”