gutter

gutter · noun, verb, adjective¹

1. Latin · derived fromgutta“drop”
2. Old French · derived fromgoutiere
3. Anglo-Norman · derived fromguttere
4. Middle English · inherited fromgutter
5. English todaygutter

From Middle English gutter, guttur, goter, from Anglo-Norman guttere, from Old French goutiere (French gouttière), ultimately from Latin gutta (“drop”).

gutter · noun²

From gut + -er.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from late 14th c. To flow or stream; to form gutters.
• from early 18th c. To melt away by having the molten wax run down along the side of the candle.