dumpster
UK: ˈdʌmpstə | US: ˈdʌmpstər
n. a large trash receptacle designed for heavy waste disposal, often used in commercial or industrial settings.
vt. (informal) to discard something carelessly or in large quantities.
The word "dumpster" originated as a trademarked name (Dempster Dumpster) in the 1930s, derived from the Dempster Brothers company, which manufactured waste containers. The term combines "dump" (from Old Norse "dumpa," meaning "to fall suddenly") with the suffix "-ster," often used to form nouns denoting objects or tools (e.g., "roadster"). Over time, "dumpster" became genericized, losing its trademark status and entering common usage to describe large trash bins.
The restaurant staff threw the broken chairs into the dumpster behind the building.
He decided to dumpster his old notebooks after graduating.
The alley smelled terrible because the dumpster hadn’t been emptied in weeks.
She found a perfectly good lamp in the dumpster and took it home.
The city installed new dumpsters to improve waste management in the neighborhood.