demijohn

[ dem-i-jon ]
See synonyms for demijohn on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a large bottle having a short, narrow neck, and usually being encased in wickerwork.

Origin of demijohn

1
1760–70; by folk etymology <French dame-jeanne, apparently special use of proper name

Words Nearby demijohn

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use demijohn in a sentence

  • He has been drunk three times in the last month; he is a walking demijohn; his hypocrisy a shame to his grey hairs.

    Alone | Marion Harland
  • The covering of a broken demijohn was used in the manner shown as a waste-paper basket.

  • They strung out and started for the Antarctic Ocean, with a big old wicker-worked demijohn in the lead.

    Over the Sliprails | Henry Lawson
  • He lifted the demijohn of whiskey from the table and shook it.

  • He promptly broke the demijohn, and was knocked down thereupon by one of the drunken sailors.

    Ralph Granger's Fortunes | William Perry Brown

British Dictionary definitions for demijohn

demijohn

/ (ˈdɛmɪˌdʒɒn) /


noun
  1. a large bottle with a short narrow neck, often with small handles at the neck and encased in wickerwork

Origin of demijohn

1
C18: probably by folk etymology from French dame-jeanne, from dame lady + Jeanne Jane

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