Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “tank” come from?

Tank comes from Portuguese tanque, a word of uncertain ultimate origin that entered English and circulated between the two languages.

tank (English): A closed container for liquids or gases; An open...

Definitions

  1. A closed container for liquids or gases; An open...

Ancestry of “tank”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Portuguesetanquetank; cistern; a sink used for laundry
2Gujaratiટાંકીcistern, underwater water reservour
3Prakrit𑀝𑀁𑀓—
4Sanskritटङ्कfruit of {{taxlink|Feronia elephantum|species}};...

Words derived from “tank”

  • tanks
  • tanker
  • antitank
  • tankage
  • supertanker
  • tankless
  • tankful
  • fishtank
  • tanklike
  • tankette
  • intertank
  • tankman
  • tanky
  • tankbuster
  • tankie
  • tankbusting
  • tankmate
  • tankship
  • saddletank
  • tankerful
  • tankerload
  • tankproof
  • untank
  • helitanker
Every word from Sanskrit टङ्क →