Word Origin & History
natatorium
1890, New Englandish word for "swimming pool," from L. natator "swimmer" (from nare "to swim") + -ium, neut. suffix. Latin nare is from PIE *sna- "to swim, to flow" (cf. Arm. nay "wet, liquid;" Gk. notios "damp, moist," nao "I flow;" Skt. snati "bathes;" M.Ir. snaim "I swim;" and probably also Gk. nesos "island," from *na-sos, lit. "that which swims").