Eggcorn Forum

My first job many years ago was at a waterproofing company, and I’ve heard “sunk pump” for “sump pump” many times. It makes sense since a sump pump is found in the basement of homes and removes water from a sunken space. The basement is sunk into the ground, so if there is a pump down there, it must be your sunk pump. Sump pumps are also used in pools and aquariums, where they may be placed underwater, so you might have a sunken sump pump – but it is still a sump pump, not a sunk pump, just like your sink might be made of zinc, but it is still a sink. Sump comes from Sumpf meaning marsh, whereas sunk is the past participle of sink which comes from sincan, sink.

Google gave me 5,830,000 results for “sump pump”, and about 1,500 for “sunk pump”

“Most homes have at least one or two sunk pumps installed in their homes (typically in the basement). Those sunk pumps help to prevent flooding of homes and those devices are work horses.”
http://homeautomation.expert/sunkpumps

“I would like to know why the insurance company will not cover this claim, when the damage was done because the power was out for several days and the sunk pump could not operate. The reason they sent to us is stupid—The damage was due to seepage. No problems before, the house has had water drain system installed years ago, plus the sunk pump.”
http://www.insuranceclaimhelp.org/gener … z4HqDNJjld

“I have a sunk pump underneath my home and it kicked on and been on ever since. How does it go off?”
https://answers.yahoo.com/question/inde … 301AAcmTBZ

By the way, the basement floor is a bad place for Grandmother’s precious wood furniture and your children’s baby photos.