Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “cesspool” come from?

Cesspool derives from English pool and English suspect, both ultimately from Latin palus meaning marsh, combined with Latin sub meaning under, via Latin -io and Latin pullus.

cesspool (English): An underground pit where sewage is held; A filthy...

Definitions

  1. An underground pit where sewage is held; A filthy...

Ancestry of “cesspool”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishsesspoolArchaic form of cesspool
2EnglishsuspiralA breathing hole; a vent or ventiduct; A spring...
3EnglishALInitialism of assembly language; Initialism of...
4Dutchalall, all of; already; yet
5Middle Dutchalall, all of; completely; even though, no matter...
6Old Dutchāl—
7Proto-West Germanicallall
8Proto-Germanicallazall
9Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂él-—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂él- →