plumber
UK: ˈplʌmə | US: ˈplʌmər
n. a person who installs and repairs piping systems for water, drainage, or gas
n. (historical) a worker who dealt with lead, especially in roofing or construction
plumb<lead> + er<agent noun suffix>
- plumb: From Latin plumbum (lead), referring to the metal historically used in pipes and roofing.
- er: A suffix denoting a person associated with an action or material (e.g., "baker," "teacher").
Etymology Origin:
The word "plumber" traces back to the Latin plumbum, meaning "lead," as ancient piping systems were primarily made of lead. Over time, the term evolved to describe workers who handled lead-based installations, eventually narrowing to its modern sense of pipe specialists. The suffix "-er" standardizes the role, aligning with English occupational nouns.
The plumber fixed the leaking pipe under the sink.
In ancient Rome, plumbers used lead to construct aqueducts.
Call a licensed plumber to inspect your gas lines.
The old house still has original lead pipes installed by 19th-century plumbers.
She trained as a plumber to join the skilled trades workforce.