Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun One that installs and repairs pipes and plumbing.
  • noun Slang An employee assigned to investigate and stop leaks of sensitive information.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun One who works in lead; especially, one who fits lead pipes and other apparatus for the conveyance of gas and water, covers the roofs of buildings with sheets of lead, etc.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun One who works in lead; esp., one who furnishes, fits, and repairs lead pipes.
  • noun Any worker who installs or repairs piping and related equipment for conveyance of water, gas, or drainage into or out of buildings, or within buildings to fixtures or equipment using water. The type of material used for the conduits varies with the application, and may be may be of lead, iron, copper, glass, palstic, or other material.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun One who works in lead.
  • noun One who furnishes, fits, and repairs pipes and other apparatus for the conveyance of water, gas, or drainage.
  • noun UK In the Royal Navy, nickname for an apprentice, a boy aged 16 to 18, who is trained in technical skills at the Dockyard Schools to become an Artificer.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a craftsman who installs and repairs pipes and fixtures and appliances

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English plummer, from Old French plomier, from Latin plumbārius, lead worker, from Latin plumbum, lead.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Old French plummier (French plombier); from Latin plumbum ("lead or lead shot").

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Examples

  • The term plumber comes from "plumbium" the latin term for lead and - as most people know - lead is a toxic substance Most people - even ibankers - know that alchemists turn lead into gold

    DealBook 2009

  • Joe the plumber is a decent American patriot who will vote for me, not for that Obama.

    Who is Joe the Plumber? - Swampland - TIME.com 2008

  • I will probably write while the plumber is here and maybe stay home from Eric's ultimate frisbee game and write.

    Mixed Bag 2001

  • [FUN FACT: Did you know that the term "plumber" comes from the Latin term for lead, the the element, the stuff you use for bullets: plumbum?]

    The Democratic Daily 2009

  • And according to Collins, plumber is gasfitero in Chile. ken_in_dfw

    Page 2 2009

  • In it, plumber is definitely indicated as plomero, with no mention of fontanero or gasliter.

    Como se dice "plumber"? & discusson of Dictionaries 2009

  • So, for example, when my plumber is late, I'll understand he was living his life and loving his family ... and those are good things.

    Cost of living in Mexican cities 2010

  • So, for example, when my plumber is late, I'll understand he was living his life and loving his family ... and those are good things.

    Cost of living in Mexican cities 2010

  • In it, plumber is definitely indicated as plomero, with no mention of fontanero or gasliter.

    Como se dice "plumber"? & discusson of Dictionaries 2009

  • And according to Collins, plumber is gasfitero in Chile. ken_in_dfw

    Page 2 2009

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