downspout

American  

[doun-spout] / ˈdaʊnˌspaʊt /

noun

1. a pipe for conveying rainwater from a roof or gutter to the ground or to a drain.

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downspout British  

/ ˈdaʊnˌspaʊt /

noun

1. Also called: drainpipe.   downpipe.  a pipe for carrying rainwater from a roof gutter to the ground or to a drain

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Etymology

Origin of downspout

First recorded in 1895–1900; down ¹ + spout

Example Sentences

Nearby, an old downspout has been refashioned into a sign with handwritten instructions to the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2024

The building is heated with a Danish wood-burning stove and has hot and cold water supplied by an office water cooler mounted over a sink that drains into a downspout.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 9, 2022

At one end, a dramatic downspout funnels rainwater toward a circular pond embedded in the concrete patio, dropping from the roof at a 45-degree angle, a sculptural intervention in the building’s geometric order.

From New York Times • Aug. 2, 2021

In most cases, using downspout extensions or troughs is necessary to achieve this distance.

From Washington Post • May 19, 2021

Luckily, that problem turned out to be nothing more than a tennis ball lodged in a downspout.

From "Typical American" by Gish Jen