pump
UK[pʌmp]US[pʌmp]
v
To force a liquid or gas to move in a particular direction using a mechanical device.
n
A mechanical device that uses pressure or suction to move liquids or gases.
Etymology
The word 'pump' entered English in the late Middle English period, borrowed from maritime trade languages like Middle Dutch. Its core form has remained remarkably stable, reflecting the basic and essential nature of the device it names. The likely onomatopoeic origin, mimicking the plunging or puffing sound of early water pumps, illustrates how function and sound can directly shape vocabulary. From these concrete beginnings, the term has expanded semantically to cover any device that moves fluids or gases by suction or pressure, and metaphorically into verbs describing forceful movement or elicitation of information.
Analysis
The word 'pump' is a simplex word. It is a loanword from Middle Dutch 'pompe' or Middle Low German 'pumpe', referring to a device for raising water. Its ultimate origin is likely onomatopoeic, imitating the sound of the device in operation.
Examples
The heart pumps blood throughout the body.
We stopped at the gas station to pump some air into the tires.
She tried to pump him for details about the surprise party.