dustpan
UK[ˈdʌstpæn]US[ˈdʌstpæn]
n
A flat container with a handle into which dust and waste are swept from the floor.
Morpheme Breakdown
dust
pan
dust
fine, dry powder
pan
broad, shallow container
Etymology
The word 'dustpan' is a transparent English compound, formed by directly combining two native Old English elements. 'Dust' has maintained its core meaning of fine particulate matter from its Proto-Germanic origin dunstuz. 'Pan' entered the Germanic lexicon early from Latin patina, referring to a broad, shallow vessel. The compound logically names the tool by its function: a pan-shaped receptacle specifically for collecting dust swept from floors, illustrating a practical approach to word formation in English.
Analysis
Structure: dust (fine, dry powder) + pan (broad, shallow container)
- dust: From Old English dūst (fine, dry powder). Functional role: Specifies the primary material the object is designed to collect.
- pan: From Old English panne (a pan, dish, vessel), via Latin patina and Greek patanē (a flat dish). Functional role: Denotes the type of container or receptacle.
Examples
She swept the broken glass into a dustpan.
Please empty the dustpan into the trash bin.
The janitor carried a broom and dustpan down the hallway.