jug

¹ American  

[juhg] / dʒʌg /

noun

1. a large container usually made of earthenware, metal, or glass, commonly having a handle, a narrow neck, and sometimes a cap or cork.

2. the contents of such a container; jugful.

   a jug of wine.

3. Slang. jail; prison.

4. Slang: Vulgar. jugs, a woman's breasts.

5. Slang. bank.

   Yeah, I drove him, but I didn't know he went in the jug to rob the place.

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verb (used with object)

jugged, jugging

1. to put into a jug.

2. to stew (meat) in an earthenware jug.

3. Slang. to put in jail; imprison.

jug ² American  

[juhg] / dʒʌg /

noun

1. a sound made by a bird, especially a nightingale.

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verb (used without object)

jugged, jugging

1. to make such a sound.

jug British  

/ dʒʌɡ /

noun

1. US equivalent: pitcher.  a vessel for holding or pouring liquids, usually having a handle and a spout or lip

2. such a vessel used as a kettle

   an electric jug

3. a large vessel with a narrow mouth

4. Also called: jugful.  the amount of liquid held by a jug

5. informal a glass of alcoholic drink, esp beer

6. a slang word for jail

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verb

1. to stew or boil (meat, esp hare) in an earthenware container

2. slang (tr) to put in jail

Etymology

Origin of jug¹

First recorded in 1530–40; perhaps special use of Jug, diminutive or pet name of Joan, a woman's name

Origin of jug²

First recorded in 1515–25; imitative

Explanation

Many people buy their milk in a jug, a large container with a handle and a small opening at the top. A jug usually has a fairly small spout or mouth at the top; a gallon milk container is one kind of jug, usually made of plastic. Other jugs are made of clay or glass. In some countries, beer comes in a jug, and in others water is collected and carried in a jug. Earthenware jugs can actually be played as musical instruments, often in a jug band — the player blows across the opening and holds the jug at different angles.

Example Sentences

Weir met Garcia on New Year’s Eve, 1963, at a Palo Alto music store, and soon formed the jug band Mother McCree’s Uptown Jug Champions with Garcia and future Dead bandmate Ron “Pigpen” McKernan.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 10, 2026

The result has been a week that, in his words, had everything but his second Claret Jug.

From BBC • Jul. 20, 2025

It felt an ominous warning to anyone with aspirations of halting Scheffler's seeming procession towards the Claret Jug.

From BBC • Jul. 19, 2025

Ireland's Shane Lowry, winner of the Claret Jug when it was last contested at the course in 2019, is in the following group alongside world number one Scottie Scheffler and 2021 champion Collin Morikawa.

From BBC • Jul. 15, 2025

“Which bein’ done, I crossed courses for the first time with Abraham Botch—Botch by name, an’ botch, accordin’ t’ my poor lights, by nature: Abraham Botch, God help un! o’ Jug Cove.

From Every Man for Himself by Duncan, Norman

Related Words

• beaker
• bottle
• bucket
• carafe
• decanter
• flask
• jar
• pot
• tub
• urn
• vase