downspout

American  

[doun-spout] / ˈdaʊnˌspaʊt /

noun

1. a pipe for conveying rainwater from a roof or gutter to the ground or to a drain.

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downspout British  

/ ˈdaʊnˌspaʊt /

noun

1. Also called: drainpipe.   downpipe.  a pipe for carrying rainwater from a roof gutter to the ground or to a drain

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Etymology

Origin of downspout

First recorded in 1895–1900; down ¹ + spout

Example Sentences

Nearby, an old downspout has been refashioned into a sign with handwritten instructions to the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2024

Start at the end farthest from the downspout, so any leaves over the downspout can keep debris from flowing into it as you clean.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 17, 2021

In most cases, using downspout extensions or troughs is necessary to achieve this distance.

From Washington Post • May 19, 2021

Luckily for them, a downspout from an elevated road emptied into the parking lot at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center, where some of the team members worked.

From New York Times • Dec. 3, 2020

Luckily, that problem turned out to be nothing more than a tennis ball lodged in a downspout.

From "Typical American" by Gish Jen