First recorded around 1400–50.
Comes from the late Middle English word ferdkyn or firdekyn.
This is formed from a variant of ferthe, meaning \"fourth,\" and the diminutive suffix -kin.
Sign up for more Word of the Day!

\r\nEXAMPLES OF FIRKIN\r\n

The antique store had a collection of quaint firkins on display, each with its own unique design.
After the harvest festival, the townspeople gathered around to share stories over slices of bread from a firkin of butter.

\r\nIt's National Poetry Month, and we’ve created a challenge that really is for everyone. Today’s the last day to submit!","audio":"https://static.sfdict.com/audio/F01/F0166000.mp3","definitions":[{"partofspeech":"noun","data":"a small wooden vessel or tub for butter, lard, etc."}],"examples":[],"imageUrl":"https://www.dictionary.com/e/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/firkin_IG.png","accentColor":"#0063D7"}},"status":"succeeded"}},"meta":{"requestId":"GCV_4uDAcA9pqwG2xVFoA","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchWordsNearby/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"before":[{"slug":"horsemint","entry":"horsemint"},{"slug":"horse-mule","entry":"horse mule"},{"slug":"horse-mushroom","entry":"horse mushroom"},{"slug":"horse-nettle","entry":"horse nettle"},{"slug":"horsens","entry":"Horsens"}],"after":[{"slug":"horse-opera","entry":"horse opera"},{"slug":"horse-parlor","entry":"horse parlor"},{"slug":"horse-pistol","entry":"horse pistol"},{"slug":"horseplay","entry":"horseplay"},{"slug":"horseplayer","entry":"horseplayer"}]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"horse--of--a--different--color"},"requestId":"WP5Ulq7m0_mnhJ1yNCCev","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"luna/fetchExampleSentences/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"tdb":[],"gbg":[]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"horse--of--a--different--color"},"requestId":"eixblZGjd_a5rX0X8-DaW","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchDictionaryResults/fulfilled","payload":{"slugs":[{"entries":[{"__typename":"CulturalEntry","definitions":[{"definitionSetChunks":"[{\"type\": \"text\", \"text\": \"A different matter entirely: \\u201cYou might be able to convince Devin's father, but as for his mother, that's a horse of a different color.\\u201d\"}]"}],"headword":{"displayForm":"horse of a different color","slug":"horse-of-a-different-color"},"notes":[]},{"__typename":"ThesaurusEntry","headword":{"displayForm":"horse of a different color","slug":"horse-of-a-different-color"},"id":"u27e59bea365df506.-410fe1c2.179519af098.4445","partOfSpeechGroups":[{"shortDefinitions":[{"synonyms":[{"targetWord":"another can of worms","id":"generated-014f768a-4484-4323-9315-01e79b66affd","similarity":10,"targetSlug":"another-can-of-worms"},{"targetWord":"another tune","id":"generated-b8009970-14ed-4433-ac00-1dbcea1f058e","similarity":10,"targetSlug":"another-tune"},{"targetWord":"bird of another feather","id":"generated-f0ded883-1254-4aca-bb9d-51dc280eaed0","similarity":10,"targetSlug":"bird-of-another-feather"},{"targetWord":"different breed of cat","id":"generated-51730f2b-d44c-4008-973f-48735e8a9f3e","similarity":10,"targetSlug":"different-breed-of-cat"},{"targetWord":"piece of business","id":"generated-a11d1368-8e96-488e-91d6-b64ea8bd412c","similarity":10,"targetSlug":"piece-of-business"}],"thesRid":"u27e59bea365df506.-410fe1c2.179519af098.444a_1","antonyms":[]}]}]}],"url":"horse-of-a-different-color"}]},"meta":{"arg":{"slug":"horse--of--a--different--color"},"requestId":"tQn0xG_JR3HEU8x18YCJT","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchResultsData/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"url":"horse--of--a--different--color","displayForm":"horse of a different color","canonicalSlug":"horse--of--a--different--color","content":[{"source":"cultural","entries":[{"id":"horseofadiff","type":"normal","entry":"horse of a different color","entrySyllabified":null,"entryVariants":[],"homograph":0,"pronunciation":null,"predefinitionContent":null,"contentBlocks":[{"title":null,"content":[{"type":"paragraph","content":"A different matter entirely: “You might be able to convince Devin's father, but as for his mother, that's a horse of a different color.”"}]}],"supplementaryNotes":[]}]}],"nearbyWordOrdinal":74188,"index-rank-01":["horse of a different color"],"index-rank-02":[],"index-rank-03":[],"index-rank-04":[],"index-rank-05":[],"index-rank-06":[],"index-rank-07":[],"index-rank-08":[],"index-rank-09":[],"index-rank-10":[],"index-rank-11":[],"index-rank-12":[],"index-rank-13":[],"index-rank-14":[],"index-rank-15":["horse-of-a-different-color"],"tunaSlug":"horse%20of%20a%20different%20color","isFeaturedMetaSlug":false}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"horse--of--a--different--color"},"requestId":"AGfFn-7v65t1MYdD7379p","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchSpellSuggestions/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"luna":[],"tuna":[],"lunaWithSlug":[],"tunaWithSlug":[]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"horse--of--a--different--color"},"requestId":"53cgCcAk9IZW727lrMvU-","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}}]},"actionData":null,"errors":null}

horse of a different color

Word of the Day