fireplug
UK[ˈfaɪəplʌɡ]US[ˈfaɪrplʌɡ]
n
A hydrant in a street for drawing water to put out fires.
Morpheme Breakdown
fire
plug
fire
plug
Etymology
The word "fireplug" is a transparent compound formed from two native English elements. It originated in the early 19th century, when municipal water mains were made of wood. To provide access for firefighting, holes would be drilled into the wooden pipes and then plugged with a wooden stopper or "plug." When a fire occurred, firefighters would locate and remove the plug to access the water supply. Thus, the term literally describes a "plug for firefighting purposes," a logical and descriptive name for the apparatus that evolved into the modern fire hydrant.
Analysis
Structure: fire + plug
fire (Old English; the element of combustion and burning) + plug (Middle Dutch; a stopper or bung)
Examples
The old fireplug on the corner is still functional, though rarely used.
The fire truck quickly connected its hose to the red fireplug.
The city is replacing all the antique fireplugs with modern hydrants.