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":"cfQQ2NRWsMbbNG3E6mpRb","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchWordsNearby/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"before":[{"slug":"pyrethrum","entry":"pyrethrum"},{"slug":"pyretic","entry":"pyretic"},{"slug":"pyretotherapy","entry":"pyretotherapy"},{"slug":"pyrex","entry":"Pyrex"},{"slug":"pyrexia","entry":"pyrexia"}],"after":[{"slug":"pyrheliometer","entry":"pyrheliometer"},{"slug":"pyribenzamine","entry":"Pyribenzamine"},{"slug":"pyric","entry":"pyric"},{"slug":"pyridine","entry":"pyridine"},{"slug":"pyridium","entry":"Pyridium"}]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"pyrgeometer"},"requestId":"V3dQ09NB4iMpMYyoLUC4e","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"luna/fetchExampleSentences/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"tdb":[],"gbg":[]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"pyrgeometer"},"requestId":"TO-OE6hSeMonhhTaj-kRm","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchDictionaryResults/fulfilled","payload":{"slugs":[{"entries":[{"__typename":"CollinsEntry","headword":{"displayForm":"pyrgeometer","slug":"pyrgeometer"},"homonym":null,"note":null,"origin":null,"partOfSpeechGroups":[{"definitions":[{"crossReferencesConnection":{"edges":[]},"definitionSetChunks":"[{\"text\": \"physics\", \"type\": \"lb_subject_field\"}, {\"type\": \"defgrp\", \"children\": [{\"text\": \"an instrument for measuring the loss of heat by radiation from the earth's surface\", \"type\": \"text\"}]}]","examples":[],"idiom":null,"ordinal":1,"sense":null,"subdefinitions":[]}],"ordinal":1,"partOfSpeech":"noun"}],"pronunciations":[{"ipa":"ˌpɜːdʒɪˈɒmɪtə"}],"subEntry":[]}],"url":"pyrgeometer"}]},"meta":{"arg":{"slug":"pyrgeometer"},"requestId":"EbTsGYbpPsayGifCa52I2","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchResultsData/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"url":"pyrgeometer","displayForm":"pyrgeometer","canonicalSlug":"pyrgeometer","content":[{"source":"collins","entries":[{"id":"ad8a1eeda.6bfb.1014.b87b.c2803370a23a.1","type":"normal","entry":"pyrgeometer","entrySyllabified":null,"entryVariants":"","homograph":null,"pronunciation":{"audio":null,"spell":null,"ipa":"(ˌpɜːdʒɪˈɒmɪtə)"},"predefinitionContent":"","posBlocks":[{"pos":"noun","posSupplementaryInfo":"","definitions":[{"order":1,"type":"simple","predefinitionContent":"physics","definition":"an instrument for measuring the loss of heat by radiation from the earth's surface","postdefinitionContent":""}]}],"origin":"","supplementaryNotes":[],"variantForms":[],"referenceData":[],"relatedForms":[],"derivedForms":[]}]}],"nearbyWordOrdinal":125853,"index-rank-01":["pyrgeometer"],"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":[],"tunaSlug":null,"isFeaturedMetaSlug":false}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"pyrgeometer"},"requestId":"nI6GCFeqq9OH4X_843aju","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchSpellSuggestions/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"luna":[],"tuna":["perimeter","promoter","parameter","para meter","para-meter","promote","pro mote","pro-mote"],"lunaWithSlug":[],"tunaWithSlug":[{"displayForm":"perimeter","slug":"perimeter"},{"displayForm":"promoter","slug":"promoter"},{"displayForm":"parameter","slug":"parameter"},{"displayForm":"para meter","slug":"para%20meter"},{"displayForm":"para-meter","slug":"para-meter"},{"displayForm":"promote","slug":"promote"},{"displayForm":"pro mote","slug":"pro%20mote"},{"displayForm":"pro-mote","slug":"pro-mote"}]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"pyrgeometer"},"requestId":"jMDk-znUD98qEG1afPjS8","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}}]},"actionData":null,"errors":null}

pyrgeometer

noun

Word of the Day