Tunnel
/ˈtʌn.əl/noun
A long passage through or under something, especially a mountain or underground.
Did you know?English tunnel comes through Old French from a word meaning a funnel or net-like tube, and it’s ultimately tied to the same ancient root behind “ton” and “tunic,” suggesting a shape of enclosure and covering.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*tewh₂-
“to swell, be thick”
Latin
Latin
tunna
“a cask or barrel”
Late Latin
Late Latin
tonna
“a large cask; a tub-like vessel”
Old French
Old French
tonel
“a cask; a small tube or funnel-like passage”
Middle English
English
tonel / tonnel
“a pipe or conduit; later, an underground passage”
Modern English
English
tunnel
“an underground passage”
Explore more surprising origins