French drain

Etymology
Perhaps after Henry French of Concord, MA

Noun

 * 1) A shallow trench, sometimes lined with tile or containing a perforated pipe, backfilled with gravel and then covered over, used to collect and channel runoff water.
 * 2) A gravel-filled corridor with a perforated pipe running through it that runs against the foundation footings of a building, used to collect ground water and drain it away from the building's interior.

Synonyms

 * weeping tile, foundation drain, rubble drain

Translations

 * French: drain français, drain de fondation