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decant

[dih-kant]
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verb (used with object)
  1. to pour (wine or other liquid) gently so as not to disturb the sediment.
  2. to pour (a liquid) from one container to another.
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Origin of decant

1625–35; < Medieval Latin dēcanthāre, equivalent to Latin dē- de- + Medieval Latin canth(us) spout, rim of a vessel (Latin: iron band round a wheel < Greek kánthos corner of the eye, tire) + -āre infinitive suffix
Related formsde·can·ta·tion [dee-kan-tey-shuh n] /ˌdi kænˈteɪ ʃən/, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for decant

Historical Examples

  • Strain, allow grounds to settle, decant, and add one cup of sugar.

    American Cookery

    Various

  • Miss Recompense was about to decant some of her preparations.

    A Little Girl in Old Boston

    Amanda Millie Douglas

  • When you decant it, be careful not to disturb the settlings at the bottom of the pan.

  • Suffer them to stand together one hour, then decant the liquor.

  • After most of the curd has settled, decant as much as possible of the fat.

British Dictionary definitions for decant

decant

verb
  1. to pour (a liquid, such as wine) from one container to another, esp without disturbing any sediment
  2. (tr) to rehouse (people) while their homes are being rebuilt or refurbished
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Word Origin

C17: from Medieval Latin dēcanthāre, from canthus spout, rim; see canthus
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for decant

v.

1630s, "pour off the clear liquid from a solution by gently tipping the vessel," originally an alchemical term, from French décanter, perhaps from Medieval Latin decanthare "to pour from the edge of a vessel," from de- + Medieval Latin canthus "corner, lip of a jug," from Latin cantus, canthus "iron rim around a carriage wheel." Related: Decanted; decanting.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper