siphon

Etymology

From Middle French siphon, from Old French sifon, from Latin sipho, from Ancient Greek σίφων (síphōn, “pipe, tube”), of uncertain origin; possibly related to Latin tibia (“pipe, flute of bone”), with the irregular forms suggesting a non-Indo-European loan source, perhaps of the shape *twi-, *twibh.

noun

1. A bent pipe or tube with one end lower than the other, in which hydrostatic pressure exerted due to the force of gravity moves liquid from one reservoir to another.
2. A soda siphon.
3. (zoology) A tubelike organ found in animals or elongated cell found in plants.

verb

1. (transitive) To transfer (liquid) by means of a siphon.
   He used a rubber tube to siphon petrol from the car's fuel tank.
2. (transitive, figurative) To steal or skim off money in small amounts; to embezzle.