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":"d72w2AkjcoU-web8fxdiD","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchWordsNearby/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"before":[{"slug":"snippet","entry":"snippet"},{"slug":"snippy","entry":"snippy"},{"slug":"snips","entry":"snips"},{"slug":"snit","entry":"snit"},{"slug":"snitch","entry":"snitch"}],"after":[{"slug":"snitchy","entry":"snitchy"},{"slug":"snite","entry":"snite"},{"slug":"snivel","entry":"snivel"},{"slug":"snively","entry":"snively"},{"slug":"snob","entry":"snob"}]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"snitch-line"},"requestId":"VW0khdRwKs--RfcN5fLds","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"luna/fetchExampleSentences/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"tdb":[],"gbg":[]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"snitch-line"},"requestId":"dmx5X2RewEtCIEjmNugik","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchDictionaryResults/fulfilled","payload":{"slugs":[{"entries":[{"__typename":"CollinsEntry","headword":{"displayForm":"snitch line","slug":"snitch-line"},"homonym":null,"note":null,"origin":null,"partOfSpeechGroups":[{"definitions":[{"crossReferencesConnection":{"edges":[]},"definitionSetChunks":"[{\"text\": \"\", \"type\": \"text\"}, {\"type\": \"defgrp\", \"children\": [{\"text\": \"a direct telephone or other communications link set up to allow people to report neighbours, colleagues, etc suspected of wrongdoing\", \"type\": \"text\"}]}]","examples":[],"idiom":null,"ordinal":1,"sense":null,"subdefinitions":[]}],"ordinal":1,"partOfSpeech":"noun"}],"pronunciations":[],"subEntry":[]}],"url":"snitch-line"}]},"meta":{"arg":{"slug":"snitch-line"},"requestId":"v-bGeBzMuQYazF3u2u5bF","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchResultsData/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"url":"snitch-line","displayForm":"snitch line","canonicalSlug":"snitch-line","content":[{"source":"collins","entries":[{"id":"addbda288.6bfb.1014.b87b.c2803370a23a.1","type":"normal","entry":"snitch line","entrySyllabified":null,"entryVariants":"","homograph":null,"pronunciation":{"audio":null,"spell":null,"ipa":""},"predefinitionContent":"","posBlocks":[{"pos":"noun","posSupplementaryInfo":"","definitions":[{"order":1,"type":"simple","predefinitionContent":"Canadian","definition":"a direct telephone or other communications link set up to allow people to report neighbours, colleagues, etc suspected of wrongdoing","postdefinitionContent":""}]}],"origin":"","supplementaryNotes":[],"variantForms":[],"referenceData":[],"relatedForms":[],"derivedForms":[]}]}],"nearbyWordOrdinal":143516,"index-rank-01":["snitch line"],"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":"snitch-line"},"requestId":"LhaOLnM9SEC-K5P9-q_i_","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchSpellSuggestions/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"luna":[],"tuna":[],"lunaWithSlug":[],"tunaWithSlug":[]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"snitch-line"},"requestId":"VvRKWoDi1iOsjXcLhSnXY","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}}]},"actionData":null,"errors":null}

snitch line

noun

Word of the Day