Etymograph

English

fireplug

From fire + plug, referring to the system used prior to fire hydrants, in which a large plug was placed into a hole in the water main, then covered with a barrel.

A compound of fire + plug

Proto-Indo-European *péh₂wr̥

…

Proto-Germanic *fuïr

Proto-West Germanic *fuir

Old English fȳr ‘fire’

Middle English fyr

English fire

Proto-West Germanic *plugi

Old Dutch *pluggi

Middle Dutch plugge ‘peg, plug’

Dutch plugge

Dutch plug ‘wall plug’

English plug

The story

The plug was removed when water was needed.

Today it means

noun A fire hydrant.

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

Etymograph / fireplug