decanter

American  

[dih-kan-ter] / dɪˈkæn tər /

noun

1. a vessel, usually an ornamental glass bottle, for holding and serving wine, brandy, or the like.

2. a bottle used for decanting.

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decanter British  

/ dɪˈkæntə /

noun

1. a stoppered bottle, usually of glass, into which a drink, such as wine, is poured for serving

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Etymology

Origin of decanter

First recorded in 1705–15; decant + -er ¹

Explanation

Want an extra fancy way to serve a beverage? Put it in a decanter, an elegant glass container with a stopper. A decanter is similar to a carafe, a wide-mouthed vessel for serving liquids, except it has a narrower neck and a stopper. Particularly ornate decanters are made of cut crystal and are meant to hold wine, which some people believe should "breathe" before being poured and sipped. Decanter comes from the verb decant, "to pour," and its Medieval Latin source, decanthare, "pour from the edge of a vessel."

Example Sentences

A bowl of his tempura udon wouldn’t be complete without a sprinkle of shichimi, which, at his dinerlike restaurant, you can find next to the salt and pepper shakers and soy sauce decanter.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 15, 2023

While cleaning camp, my partner even found a desecrated crystal decanter filled with urine.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 10, 2023

Martin displays terrific comic timing as Butler, deftly channeling the general’s narcissism and exasperation, whether fussing with paperwork or pontificating over the sherry decanter.

From Washington Post • Mar. 29, 2023

The Cyberwhistle is in the lifestyle products section of Tesla's website, which also includes items such as $150 decanter, a $30 "S3XY" logo mug, and several diecast models of the company's vehicles.

From BBC • Nov. 30, 2021

E & J, by contrast, had a far more ornate bottle: more squat, like a decanter, with smoked glass, foil wrapping around the spout, and a dark, richly textured label.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell

Related Words

• carafe
• flask
• jug