Main Entry:

cis·tern

Pronunciation:

\ˈsis-tərn\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Latin cisterna, from cista box, chest — more at chest

Date:

13th century

1 : an artificial reservoir (as an underground tank) for storing liquids and especially water (as rainwater) 2 : a large usually silver vessel formerly used (as in cooling wine) at the dining table 3 : a fluid-containing sac or cavity in an organism