Tuba - Etymology, Origin & Meaning (original) (raw)

1590s, in anatomy and zoology, "hollow organ or passage in the body;" by 1650s as "pipe or hollow cylinder," especially a small one used as a conduit for liquids, from French tube (15c.), from Latin tubus "tube, pipe," a word of unknown origin.

By 1800 in reference to glass tubes used in chemistry. The sense of "sealed container" is by 1859 in vacuum tube; later extended in electronics to a sealed tube containing electrodes; hence tube (n.) "TV as a medium," by 1959, from tube as short for cathode ray tube or picture tube. The tube (n.) also was old slang for "telephone" (1899).

Tube for "cylindrical railway tunnel" is attested from 1847; the London subway was christened the Twopenny Tube by 1900 (H.D. Browne, in the "Londoner" of June 30).

Down the tubes "lost, finished" is attested by 1963. Related: Tubal "of or pertaining to tubes collectively."