- siphon (n.)
- 1650s, from French siphon (early 17c.), from Latin sipho (genitive siphonis), from Greek siphon "pipe, tube," of unknown origin.
- siphon (v.)
- 1859, from siphon (n.). Figurative sense of "to draw off, divert" is recorded from 1940. Related: Siphoned; siphoning.