feedthrough
UK[ˈfiːdθruː]US[ˈfiːdθruː]
n
A hole or passage in a wall, screen, or partition that allows a wire, pipe, or other object to pass through while maintaining a seal or barrier.
n
An electrical connector designed to pass a signal through a partition, such as a circuit board or a shielded enclosure.
Morpheme Breakdown
feed
through
feed
through
Etymology
The term 'feedthrough' is a modern English compound, originating in the 20th century within technical fields such as electronics and engineering. It is formed by combining the verb 'feed', with its sense of supplying or conveying a substance or signal, and the preposition 'through', indicating passage from one side to another. The logic is transparently literal: a device or conduit that "feeds something through" a barrier. This compound exemplifies the productive nature of English in creating precise technical vocabulary by combining native Germanic elements to describe new functional concepts.
Analysis
Structure: feed + through
- feed: From Old English fēdan (to give food to, nourish). In this compound, it functions with the sense of "to supply or convey."
- through: From Old English þurh (from one side to the other). In this compound, it functions as a preposition/adverb indicating passage.
Examples
The engineer installed a hermetic feedthrough to pass the electrical cables into the vacuum chamber.
A capacitor feedthrough is often used to filter noise on power lines entering a shielded compartment.
Ensure the pipe feedthrough is properly sealed to prevent any gas leaks.