tank
The origin and history of tank.
Etymology
From Portuguese tanque ("reservoir, container"), itself borrowed from an Indian language word for a cistern. The armoured-vehicle sense began in 1915 as a deliberate cover story — early prototypes were called "tanks" so they would be mistaken for water carriers.
Class of 1915
tank first entered the language around 1915. Other words from the same year:
See the full Class of 1915 →