Downpipes

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Conduits that channel rainwater from a roof to the ground
2. Vertical pipes that facilitate drainage of water from a building's roof to the drainage system
3. Structures designed to transport precipitation runoff away from a structure to prevent water damage

Etymology: "Downpipes" is the plural of "downpipe," a compound formed from "down" and "pipe." The pipe is the vertical channel that carries rainwater from a roof gutter down to the ground or a drain, so the name describes its position as much as its function: it runs down the side of a building. Both parts are ancient English words. "Down" comes from Old English "dūne," meaning "from a height," while "pipe" traces back to Old English "pīpe," a tube or wind instrument, borrowed from Latin "pipare," to chirp. Joined together, the two words describe a simple, literal thing, with no figurative leap needed. The plural form simply applies to the several such pipes that run down the outside of most houses.

Synonyms: drainpipes, gutters