I'm not familiar with the term, what are they?
Tanks?
Yeah, I wondered if there’d be anyone who didn’t know what I was talking about.
In Texas (maybe elsewhere), smallish ponds (not big enough to be a lake) are used for watering stock...and they’re called stock tanks.
I’m not exactly sure of the etymology, but I believe the term came from an actual, metal watering tub or “tank”. Local parlance here uses tanks as the name for the watering holes I mentioned above.
Generally, the tanks are dug by the landowner. In Texas, there is only one, single natural lake. All the rest are man-made. So, probably the same can be said for stock tanks.
When it was hot, we used to swim in them. I wouldn’t do it NOW, mind you...but we did as young ‘uns. A lot of folks stock their tanks with fish (catfish, bass, bream, etc.) and fish them for fun, too.
Hope this is what you were asking about...
Regards.