What kind of pump did Leonardo da Vinci design for lifting water?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a centrifugal pump for lifting and moving water.

A centrifugal pump uses rotating motion to impart energy to a liquid, generally directing it outward from a central rotating region. Leonardo explored water machinery in connection with canals, fountains, drainage, and hydraulic engineering. His notebooks contain sketches of pumps and other devices for controlling the movement of water.

The design belongs to a long history of hydraulic experimentation rather than a single invention that immediately became standard. Ancient and medieval engineers had already developed several methods of raising water, including screws, buckets, and chain pumps.

A centrifugal pump differs from a piston pump because it does not primarily lift water through repeated back-and-forth strokes. Leonardo’s version illustrates his interest in converting continuous rotary motion into useful hydraulic work.