Where does “downspout” come from?

downspout (English) comes from English Down, from Middle English doun, from Old English dūn, from Proto-Germanic *dūnā, from Proto-Celtic dūnom, from Proto-Indo-European dʰewh₂- — smoke; mist, haze.

downspout (English): A vertical pipe or conduit that carries rainwater...

Definitions

  1. A vertical pipe or conduit that carries rainwater...

Ancestry of “downspout”, step by step

downspout traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English Down

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishDownusually known as County Down
2Middle Englishdoundown
3Old Englishdūnhill, down; hill, dune; hill, mountain
4Proto-Germanic*dūnā—
5Proto-Celticdūnomstronghold, rampart
6Proto-Indo-Europeandʰewh₂-smoke; mist, haze

via English spout

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishspoutA tube or lip through which liquid or steam is...
2Middle Englishspoutento spout
3Middle Dutchspoiten—
Every word from Proto-Indo-European dʰewh₂- →