First recorded around 1400–50.
Comes from the late Middle English word ferdkyn or firdekyn.
This is formed from a variant of ferthe, meaning \"fourth,\" and the diminutive suffix -kin.
Sign up for more Word of the Day!

\r\nEXAMPLES OF FIRKIN\r\n

The antique store had a collection of quaint firkins on display, each with its own unique design.
After the harvest festival, the townspeople gathered around to share stories over slices of bread from a firkin of butter.

\r\nIt's National Poetry Month, and we’ve created a challenge that really is for everyone. Today’s the last day to submit!","audio":"https://static.sfdict.com/audio/F01/F0166000.mp3","definitions":[{"partofspeech":"noun","data":"a small wooden vessel or tub for butter, lard, etc."}],"examples":[],"imageUrl":"https://www.dictionary.com/e/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/firkin_IG.png","accentColor":"#0063D7"}},"status":"succeeded"}},"meta":{"requestId":"Uo1XEOCwV23NSdNUHN_o7","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchWordsNearby/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"before":[{"slug":"genetic-counselling","entry":"genetic counselling"},{"slug":"genetic-disorder","entry":"genetic disorder"},{"slug":"genetic-drift","entry":"genetic drift"},{"slug":"genetic-engineering","entry":"genetic engineering"},{"slug":"genetic-fallacy","entry":"genetic fallacy"}],"after":[{"slug":"genetic-fingerprinting","entry":"genetic fingerprinting"},{"slug":"geneticist","entry":"geneticist"},{"slug":"genetic-load","entry":"genetic load"},{"slug":"genetic-map","entry":"genetic map"},{"slug":"genetic-marker","entry":"genetic marker"}]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"genetic--fingerprint"},"requestId":"TrZ7KFpkm9rX-f0ef9Q-p","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"luna/fetchExampleSentences/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"tdb":[],"gbg":[]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"genetic--fingerprint"},"requestId":"yYlbAKohZHtvjcQfcPq-L","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchDictionaryResults/fulfilled","payload":{"slugs":[{"entries":[{"__typename":"CollinsEntry","headword":{"displayForm":"genetic fingerprint","slug":"genetic-fingerprint"},"homonym":null,"note":null,"origin":null,"partOfSpeechGroups":[{"definitions":[{"crossReferencesConnection":{"edges":[]},"definitionSetChunks":"[{\"type\": \"defgrp\", \"children\": [{\"text\": \"the pattern of DNA unique to each individual that can be analysed in a sample of blood, saliva, or tissue: used as a means of identification\", \"type\": \"text\"}]}]","examples":[],"idiom":null,"ordinal":1,"sense":null,"subdefinitions":[]}],"ordinal":1,"partOfSpeech":"noun"}],"pronunciations":[],"subEntry":[]}],"url":"genetic-fingerprint"}]},"meta":{"arg":{"slug":"genetic--fingerprint"},"requestId":"GuYQYg74E0nBgNGD8-iYk","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchResultsData/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"url":"genetic--fingerprint","displayForm":"genetic fingerprint","canonicalSlug":"genetic--fingerprint","content":[{"source":"collins","entries":[{"id":"u11d1def534ea1be0.1a3ea532.11d23ec12e7.-554b.1","type":"normal","entry":"genetic fingerprint","entrySyllabified":null,"entryVariants":"","homograph":null,"pronunciation":{"audio":null,"spell":null,"ipa":""},"predefinitionContent":"","posBlocks":[{"pos":"noun","posSupplementaryInfo":"","definitions":[{"order":1,"type":"simple","predefinitionContent":"","definition":"the pattern of DNA unique to each individual that can be analysed in a sample of blood, saliva, or tissue: used as a means of identification","postdefinitionContent":""}]}],"origin":"","supplementaryNotes":[],"variantForms":[],"referenceData":[],"relatedForms":[],"derivedForms":[]}]}],"nearbyWordOrdinal":63199,"index-rank-01":["genetic fingerprint"],"index-rank-02":[],"index-rank-03":[],"index-rank-04":[],"index-rank-05":[],"index-rank-06":[],"index-rank-07":[],"index-rank-08":[],"index-rank-09":[],"index-rank-10":[],"index-rank-11":[],"index-rank-12":[],"index-rank-13":[],"index-rank-14":[],"index-rank-15":["genetic-fingerprint"],"tunaSlug":null,"isFeaturedMetaSlug":false}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"genetic--fingerprint"},"requestId":"v09EPWP03p2gt322KdR7U","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchSpellSuggestions/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"luna":[],"tuna":[],"lunaWithSlug":[],"tunaWithSlug":[]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"genetic--fingerprint"},"requestId":"GIPZi2uPKLuFkRDUZZ5p6","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}}]},"actionData":null,"errors":null}

genetic fingerprint

noun

Word of the Day