pool
UK[puːl]US[puːl]
n
A small area of still water, especially one that has formed naturally.
n
A supply of things or money that is shared by a group of people and can be used when needed.
n
A game played on a table in which two players use cues to hit 16 colored balls into six holes.
v
To put money, resources, or people together so that they can be shared or used for a common purpose.
Etymology
The word 'pool' for a small body of water has a direct lineage from the Old English 'pōl', which is related to similar words in other Germanic languages like Dutch 'poel' and German 'Pfuhl'. This Proto-Germanic root likely referred specifically to a deep, still place in a body of water. The financial and gaming sense of 'pool' entered English in the 17th century from French. It originates from the French word 'poule', meaning "hen", which was used metaphorically for the collective stakes in a game, likening them to a hen and her eggs. These two historically distinct words converged into the identical modern spelling 'pool', creating a homograph with two separate semantic streams.
Analysis
The modern English word 'pool' is a simplex word derived from a single root. Its primary origin is Old English 'pōl', meaning a small body of still water. A secondary, distinct etymology for the financial/gaming sense comes from French 'poule', meaning "stake, booty" (literally "hen").
Examples
The children were swimming in the cool, clear pool.
The team pooled their ideas to come up with an innovative solution.
He spent the afternoon playing pool at the local hall.