Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A pot or drinking vessel with a capacity of 2.0 quarts (1.9 liters).
  • noun The liquid contained in this type of pot or drinking vessel.
  • noun An old English liquid measure equal to 2.0 quarts (1.9 liters).

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A liquid measure of two quarts; the contents of such a measure; hence, a measure of wine or other beverage; any large tankard; a pot.
  • noun A dish made by Connecticut fishermen by frying pork in the bottom of a kettle, then adding water, and stewing in the water pieces of fresh fish. Muddle, made by Cape Ann fishermen, is the same dish with the addition of crackers.
  • noun A small wicker basket or vessel for holding fruit.
  • noun A children's game.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A liquid measure of four pints.
  • noun A pot or tankard.
  • noun A vessel or small basket for holding fruit.
  • noun [ Prov. Eng.] taking a pottle of liquor at one draught.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun archaic a former unit of volume, equivalent to half a gallon, used for liquids and corn
  • noun archaic a pot of around this size
  • noun New Zealand a conical receptacle, typically for potato chips or other foodstuffs
  • noun New Zealand, southern a receptacle for strawberries

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a pot that holds 2 quarts

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Middle English potel, from Old French, from pot, pot; see potiche.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Old French potel, diminutive of pot, from popular Latin pot.

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Examples

  • She watched through the window as Reg bent down, rummaged through the box, and lifted out a thin paintbrush and a small pottle of paint.

    None of the Above Sally Houtman 2011

  • Will you pe take de odder pottle, or ave you pe got zober yet and come to your zenzes?

    Archive 2008-12-01 2008

  • We rested for a couple of hours, and I wished to God I had just one good waterskin instead of the pathetic little pottle at my belt.

    Isabelle Estelle Bruno 2010

  • They often looked at me as they spoke together; and as Cristal Nixon entered with a huge four-pottle tankard, filled with the beverage his master had demanded, Herries turned away from Mr. Foxley somewhat impatiently, saying with emphasis, ‘I give you my word of honour, that you have not the slightest reason to apprehend anything on his account.’

    Redgauntlet 2008

  • There was a laugh among the yeomen who witnessed this pottle-deep potation, so obstreperous as to rouse and disturb the King, who, raising his finger, said angrily, “How, knaves, no respect, no observance?”

    The Talisman 2008

  • Adam — “let us but roast a crab-apple, pour a pottle of ale on it, and bathe our throats withal, thou shalt see a change in me.”

    The Abbot 2008

  • “It was but one small pottle,” said poor Adam, whom consciousness of his own indiscretion now reduced to a merely defensive warfare.

    The Abbot 2008

  • I wish I could pottle the smell of the damp, earthy air.

    [britain] easy on my mind 2008

  • Auchtermuchty and his wains — I trust it is only the medicine of the pottle-pot, (being the only medicamentum which the beast useth,) which hath caused him to tarry on the road.

    The Abbot 2008

  • Thirdly, and to conclude, as our worthy preacher says, beware of the pottle-pot — it has drenched the judgment of wiser men than you.

    The Abbot 2008

Comments

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  • An old English liquid measure equal to 2.0 quarts (1.9 liters).

    November 7, 2007

  • If sips don’t suffice then a lot’ll.

    By golly, just chug down the bottle!

    If you still can’t forget

    Then drown all regret

    In the bountiful flood of a pottle.

    See also comments at pottle-pot.

    January 11, 2018

  • Ogden Nash nods, approvingly.

    January 11, 2018