tank town

noun

: a small town

Word History

Etymology

from the fact that trains stopped at such towns only to take on water

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tank town was in 1906

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tank town.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tank%20town. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.

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