plumbing
UK: ˈplʌmɪŋ | US: ˈplʌmɪŋ
n. the system of pipes, tanks, and fixtures used for water supply and drainage in a building.
n. the work of installing and maintaining such systems.
n. (figurative) the underlying structure or mechanics of something.
plumb<lead (metal)> + ing<noun suffix>
- plumb: From Old French plombe (lead weight), derived from Latin plumbum (lead), referencing the metal historically used in pipes.
- ing: A suffix forming nouns denoting actions, materials, or systems (e.g., building, flooring).
Etymology Origin:
The word traces back to Latin plumbum, the term for lead, which was the primary material for pipes in ancient Roman plumbing systems. Over time, plumbum evolved into Old French plombe (a lead seal/weight), and by the 15th century, English adopted "plumb" to describe both the metal and the tools (e.g., plumb line) used in construction. The suffix -ing later generalized the term to the entire pipe system. The connection to lead persists metaphorically in modern usage, even as materials have changed.
The plumbing in this old house needs urgent repairs.
He works as a plumbing contractor for commercial buildings.
Understanding the plumbing of a computer’s cooling system is essential for engineers.
A leak in the plumbing caused water damage to the basement.
She studied the legal plumbing of the tax code to identify loopholes.