A large, open container filled with water for bathing; also a small container used for storage.
From Middle English 'tubbe,' possibly from Low German 'tubbe' or Middle Dutch 'tobbe.' The origin is uncertain but may relate to words meaning 'to swell' or come from onomatopoeia mimicking the sound of water. The word has been used for bathing vessels since at least the 14th century.
The bathtub as we know it is actually a Victorian invention—before the 1800s, most people bathed in rivers or used small basins! The modern 'soak' culture is less than 200 years old, which shows how recent our ideas of comfort and hygiene really are.
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