bathwater
|bath-wat-er|
🇺🇸
/ˈbæθˌwɔtər/
🇬🇧
/ˈbɑːθˌwɔːtə/
water from a bath
Etymology
'bathwater' originates from English, specifically the compound words 'bath' and 'water', where 'bath' meant 'a washing or bathing' and 'water' meant 'water'.
'bath' comes from Old English 'bæþ' (also written 'baþ') from Proto-Germanic *baþą, and 'water' comes from Old English 'wæter' from Proto-Germanic *watar; the compound 'bathwater' appears in Middle English as the compound of these two words and developed into modern English 'bathwater'.
Initially, it meant 'water used for washing or bathing', and over time it has remained largely the same, though it is also used figuratively in idioms.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the water in which someone has bathed; water used for a bath.
She emptied the bathwater and refilled the tub with fresh water.
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Noun 2
something considered worthless or undesirable that might be discarded; often referenced in the idiom 'don't throw the baby out with the bathwater'.
Be careful when redesigning the policy so you don't throw the bathwater away along with important protections.
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Last updated: 2026/01/25 07:13