cistern

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a tank or underground reservoir for collecting and storing water or another liquid

   Rainwater from the roof drained into a stone cistern beside the house.

2. 2
   noun

   a tank that stores the water used to flush a toilet

   A faulty valve caused the toilet cistern to refill continuously.

Simplified etymology

Cistern entered English in the Middle English period and is related to chest, ultimately sharing the root represented by Greek kistē, “box or basket.”

From Middle English cisterne, through Old French from Latin cisterna ("underground reservoir"), related to Latin cista ("box, chest") and ultimately Ancient Greek kistē. The toilet-tank sense is especially common in British English.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary