A variant spelling of plumber, referring to a tradesperson who installs and repairs water supply and drainage systems. Also used as a surname.
From Middle English plummer, from Old French plomier, from Latin plumbarius meaning worker in lead. The connection to lead comes from ancient Roman water pipes being made of lead (plumbum).
The word plumber literally means 'lead worker,' a reminder that Roman engineering used lead pipes extensively - ironically, this advanced plumbing may have contributed to the empire's decline through lead poisoning. Modern plumbers rarely work with lead, but the name stuck!
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