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":"Ve21PbQdAn-WRpscHYNZb","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchWordsNearby/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"before":[{"slug":"american-highland","entry":"American Highland"},{"slug":"american-holly","entry":"American holly"},{"slug":"american-hornbeam","entry":"American hornbeam"},{"slug":"american-indian","entry":"American Indian"},{"slug":"american-indian-movement","entry":"American Indian Movement"}],"after":[{"slug":"americanism","entry":"Americanism"},{"slug":"americanist","entry":"Americanist"},{"slug":"american-ivy","entry":"American ivy"},{"slug":"americanization","entry":"Americanization"},{"slug":"americanize","entry":"Americanize"}]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"american-ipecac"},"requestId":"8EePkO_tBFRVYpJNw_X1C","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"luna/fetchExampleSentences/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"tdb":[],"gbg":[]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"american-ipecac"},"requestId":"IeKt_5S-ZRV08uCQq0Ze2","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchDictionaryResults/fulfilled","payload":{"slugs":[{"entries":[{"__typename":"Entry","audioPronunciations":[],"confusableNotes":[],"genderNotes":[],"grammarNotes":[],"headword":{"displayForm":"American ipecac","slug":"american-ipecac"},"idioms":[],"orderKey":99999010,"ordinal":10,"origin":null,"partOfSpeechBlock":[{"definitions":[{"antonymsConnection":{"edges":[]},"definitionSetChunks":"[{\"type\": \"def\", \"children\": [{\"text\": \"a plant,\", \"type\": \"text\"}, {\"text\": \"Gillenia stipulata,\", \"type\": \"emphasis\"}, {\"text\": \"of the rose family, of the eastern coast of the U.S., having white flowers on long stalks.\", \"type\": \"text\"}]}]","examples":[],"ordinal":1,"subdefinitions":[],"synonymsConnection":{"edges":[]}}],"inflectionSets":[],"labelSet":null,"ordinal":1,"partOfSpeech":"noun"}],"pronunciationNotes":[],"pronunciationSet":null,"relatedFormSets":[],"sensitiveNotes":[],"spellingNotes":[],"synonymStudy":[],"usageAlerts":[],"usageNotes":[],"variants":[],"verbPhrases":[]}],"url":"american-ipecac"}]},"meta":{"arg":{"slug":"american-ipecac"},"requestId":"Si-GtcNVz6rvhg8MJ3Ha5","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchResultsData/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"url":"american-ipecac","displayForm":"American ipecac","canonicalSlug":"american-ipecac","content":[{"source":"luna","entries":[{"id":"u3bb48a285cbafaf0.-3bc55cee.14d9e5b8d44.-763b","type":"normal","entry":"American ipecac","entrySyllabified":"American ipecac","entryVariants":[],"homograph":null,"pronunciation":null,"predefinitionContent":"","posBlocks":[{"definitions":[{"order":1,"type":"simple","predefinitionContent":"","postdefinitionContent":"","definition":"a plant, Gillenia stipulata, of the rose family, of the eastern coast of the U.S., having white flowers on long stalks.","synonyms":"","antonyms":"","cites":[]}],"pos":"noun","posSupplementaryInfo":""}],"origin":null,"originData":null,"supplementaryNotes":[],"variantForms":[],"variantSpellings":[],"referenceData":[],"relatedForms":[],"confusables":[]}]}],"nearbyWordOrdinal":5283,"index-rank-01":["american ipecac"],"index-rank-02":[],"index-rank-03":[],"index-rank-04":["american ipecac's","american ipecacs","american ipecacs'"],"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":[],"categoryId":"169","complexityScore":0.5185633221913506,"gradeLevel":"post_college","tunaSlug":null,"isFeaturedMetaSlug":false}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"american-ipecac"},"requestId":"88zgDnynKRPDiqD6iL0A5","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchSpellSuggestions/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"luna":["American","Americana","Americano","America","Armorican","'Merican"],"tuna":["America","americas"],"lunaWithSlug":[{"displayForm":"American","slug":"american"},{"displayForm":"Americana","slug":"americana"},{"displayForm":"Americano","slug":"americano"},{"displayForm":"America","slug":"america"},{"displayForm":"Armorican","slug":"armorican"},{"displayForm":"'Merican","slug":"merican"}],"tunaWithSlug":[{"displayForm":"America","slug":"america"},{"displayForm":"americas","slug":"americas"}]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"american-ipecac"},"requestId":"CLXSQkT36elc1kZjW2JYU","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}}]},"actionData":null,"errors":null}

American ipecac

noun

Word of the Day