demijohn
[ dem-i-jon ]
/ ˈdɛm ɪˌdʒɒn /
noun
a large bottle having a short, narrow neck, and usually being encased in wickerwork.
RELATED WORDS
beaker, jug, vial, urn, chalice, decanter, canteen, carafe, crock, glass, retort, jar, ewer, noggin, bag, bottle, fiasco, flagon, crystal, alembic
Nearby words
- demic,
- demicanton,
- demigauntlet bandage,
- demigod,
- demigoddess,
- demilitarize,
- demilitarized zone,
- demilune,
- demimetope,
- demimondaine
Origin of demijohn
1760–70; by folk etymology < French dame-jeanne, apparently special use of proper name
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for demijohn
demijohn
/ (ˈdɛmɪˌdʒɒn) /
noun
a large bottle with a short narrow neck, often with small handles at the neck and encased in wickerwork
Word Origin for demijohn
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
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demijohn
1769, partial translation and word-play from French damejeanne (late 17c.) "Lady Jane," term used for large globular wicker-wrapped bottle, perhaps because its shape suggested a stout woman in the costume of the period. A general Mediterranean word, with forms found in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, and Arabic.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper