Etymograph

English

cistern

Cistern comes from Latin cisterna ‘cistern, tank (for water), reservoir’, from cista ‘box’, and ultimately from Ancient Greek κίστη.

  1. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEκίστηkístē‘box’
  2. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcista‘box’
  3. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcisterna‘cistern, tank (for water), reservoir’
  4. Old Frenchc. 842–1400cisterne
  5. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
  6. Englishearliest quotation 1847cistern

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Earlier history uncertain.

Lineage

  1. Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEκίστηkístē‘box’
  2. Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEcista‘box’
  3. Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEcisterna‘cistern, tank (for water), reservoir’
  4. Old Frenchc. 842–1400cisterne
  5. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500same form
  6. Englishearliest quotation 1847cistern

Earliest quotation: 1847, editorial staff, Improvement in Water Taps, Cister Valves, &c.: “For cistern valves, they are well adapted—opening the full…”

Linked words

through Latin cista ‘box’

chest, kist, 4 more

Today it means

noun A reservoir or tank for holding water, especially for catching and holding rainwater for later use.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Ancient Greek κίστη / cistern

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