cask

American  

[kask, kahsk] / kæsk, kɑsk /

noun

1. a container made and shaped like a barrel, especially one larger and stronger, for holding liquids.

2. the quantity such a container holds.

   wine at 32 guineas a cask.

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verb (used with object)

1. to place or store in a cask.

cask British  

/ kɑːsk /

noun

1. a strong wooden barrel used mainly to hold alcoholic drink

   a wine cask

2. any barrel

3. the quantity contained in a cask

4. a lightweight cardboard container with plastic lining and a small tap, used to hold and serve wine

5. engineering another name for flask

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Other Word Forms

• casklike adjective
• uncask verb (used with object)
• uncasked adjective

Etymology

Origin of cask

1425–75; late Middle English; back formation from casket, the -et being taken as the diminutive suffix

Example Sentences

If you let him, Alasdair Day, the co-founder and master distiller, will speak at length about oak species and cask types—I particularly enjoyed a limited release aged in Sicilian Marsala wine casks.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026

Investors buy a cask of whisky when it is first produced and then hope that it rises in value as the spirit ages in the barrel.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2025

But Gerry's lament is drawn from a cask of finely aged romance no twenty- or thirtysomething could possibly access, a heretofore unknown cocktail on this show.

From Salon • Sep. 28, 2023

Some 380 employees departed after closure while about 220 remain, handling site and security upgrades and preparing to transfer spent fuel from a cooling pool to dry cask storage.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 26, 2023

It was larger than the other tents and an imperial flag flew from the cask in front of it.

From "When the Sea Turned to Silver" by Grace Lin

Related Words

• keg