- shower (n.)
- Old English scur "short fall of rain, fall of missiles or blows," from West Germanic *skuraz (cf. Old Norse skur, Old Saxon and Old High German scur, German Schauer, Gothic skura, in skura windis "windstorm"), from *skuro, from PIE root *kew-(e)ro- "north, north wind" (cf. Latin caurus "northwest wind;" Old Church Slavonic severu "north, north wind;" Lithuanian siaurus "raging, stormy," siaurys "north wind," siaure "north"). Sense of "shower bath" first recorded 1851. Meaning "large number of gifts bestowed on a bride" (1904, American English colloquial) later was extended to the party at which it happens (1926).
- shower (v.)
- 1570s, from shower (n.). Related: Showered; showering.