égout

sewer, drain

noun eh-GOO Rare

Origin: Old French esgouter (to drain), from es- + goute (drop)

Usage Note

Égout refers to an underground drainage or sewage pipe. Paris is famous for its égouts — the city's sewer museum (Musée des égouts de Paris) is a tourist attraction. The plural égouts is regular. The verb égoutter means to drain (food) and is etymologically related.

Examples

"Le rat vivait dans les égouts."

Natural Translation

The rat lived in the sewers.

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