faucet

English

Alternative forms

Variant spellings

• (Middle English–15th century):
  • faucet
  • faucett
  • fawcett
• (16th century):
  • faucet
  • faucett
  • fawcet
  • fawcett
  • fawset
• (17th century):
  • fasset
  • faucet
  • faucete
  • faulsed
  • faulset
  • fauset
• (18th century):
  • faucet
  • faucit
  • fausset
  • fosset
• (19th century):
  • faucet
  • forset
  • fosset
• (20th century–present):
  • faucet

A faucet.

Etymology

From Middle English faucet, fawcett, from Old French fausset, of uncertain origin. Perhaps from Late Latin falsāre (“to falsify”) or from a diminutive of Latin faux, faucēs (“throat”). Alternatively, from Old Norse foss, fors (“waterfall”); if so, cognate with English force, foss.

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: fôʹsĭt, IPA^(key): /ˈfɔːsɪt/
• Rhymes: -ɔːsɪt
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔsɪt/
• (cot–caught merger) IPA^(key): /ˈfɑsɪt/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Homophone: Fawcett

Noun

faucet (plural faucets)

1. (Canada, US) An exposed plumbing fitting; a tap or spigot; a regulator for controlling the flow of a liquid from a reservoir.
   • 2020, Brandon Taylor, Real Life, Daunt Books Originals, page 80:

     Wallace beats his palm against the reluctant handle of the faucet until it gives way, and the water comes out too hard, too fast.

2. (game development) One or several systems that inject currency into the game's economy, thus controlling or preventing inflation

   Antonym: sink

Synonyms

• tap, spigot

Hypernyms

• valve

Derived terms

• Bitcoin faucet
• faucet aerator
• health faucet

 

Translations

tap — see tap

Anagrams

• fucate

Middle English

Alternative forms

• fawcett

Etymology

From Old French fausset, perhaps from Latin faux (“throat”).

Noun

faucet

1. faucet

Descendants

• English: faucet