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":"OC2FzUC9dzXGgYRb0li_M","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchWordsNearby/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"before":[{"slug":"jowett","entry":"Jowett"},{"slug":"jowl","entry":"jowl"},{"slug":"jowly","entry":"jowly"},{"slug":"joy","entry":"joy"},{"slug":"joyance","entry":"joyance"}],"after":[{"slug":"joyce","entry":"Joyce"},{"slug":"joycean","entry":"Joycean"},{"slug":"joyce--james","entry":"Joyce, James"},{"slug":"joyful","entry":"joyful"},{"slug":"joyless","entry":"joyless"}]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"joy-buzzer"},"requestId":"L_CleZNA21FeSKEXakbSN","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"luna/fetchExampleSentences/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"tdb":[],"gbg":[]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"joy-buzzer"},"requestId":"mEvkEZ6rMSFrGM4fEgspv","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchDictionaryResults/fulfilled","payload":{"slugs":[{"entries":[{"__typename":"Entry","audioPronunciations":[],"confusableNotes":[],"genderNotes":[],"grammarNotes":[],"headword":{"displayForm":"joy buzzer","slug":"joy-buzzer"},"idioms":[],"orderKey":99999010,"ordinal":10,"origin":null,"partOfSpeechBlock":[{"definitions":[{"antonymsConnection":{"edges":[]},"definitionSetChunks":"[{\"type\": \"def\", \"children\": [{\"text\": \"a device used for a practical joke with a handshake, concealed in the palm of the hand and producing a buzzing sound and an unpleasant vibrating sensation when it is pressed against the victim's hand.\", \"type\": \"text\"}]}]","examples":[],"ordinal":1,"subdefinitions":[],"synonymsConnection":{"edges":[]}}],"inflectionSets":[],"labelSet":null,"ordinal":1,"partOfSpeech":"noun"}],"pronunciationNotes":[],"pronunciationSet":null,"relatedFormSets":[],"sensitiveNotes":[],"spellingNotes":[],"synonymStudy":[],"usageAlerts":[],"usageNotes":[],"variants":[],"verbPhrases":[]}],"url":"joy-buzzer"}]},"meta":{"arg":{"slug":"joy-buzzer"},"requestId":"dJD05_RRus2GulCx0V4bO","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchResultsData/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"url":"joy-buzzer","displayForm":"joy buzzer","canonicalSlug":"joy-buzzer","content":[{"source":"luna","entries":[{"id":"u3bb48a285cbafaf0.-3bc55cee.14d9e6b7368.7858","type":"normal","entry":"joy buzzer","entrySyllabified":"joy buzzer","entryVariants":[],"homograph":null,"pronunciation":null,"predefinitionContent":"","posBlocks":[{"definitions":[{"order":1,"type":"simple","predefinitionContent":"","postdefinitionContent":"","definition":"a device used for a practical joke with a handshake, concealed in the palm of the hand and producing a buzzing sound and an unpleasant vibrating sensation when it is pressed against the victim's hand.","synonyms":"","antonyms":"","cites":[]}],"pos":"noun","posSupplementaryInfo":""}],"origin":null,"originData":null,"supplementaryNotes":[],"variantForms":[],"variantSpellings":[],"referenceData":[],"relatedForms":[],"confusables":[]}]}],"nearbyWordOrdinal":82984,"index-rank-01":["joy buzzer"],"index-rank-02":[],"index-rank-03":[],"index-rank-04":["joy buzzer's","joy buzzers","joy buzzers'"],"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":[],"complexityScore":0.5135258368760695,"gradeLevel":"college","tunaSlug":null,"isFeaturedMetaSlug":false}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"joy-buzzer"},"requestId":"9s3MExSlmZhvHtmUFd97n","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchSpellSuggestions/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"luna":[],"tuna":[],"lunaWithSlug":[],"tunaWithSlug":[]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"joy-buzzer"},"requestId":"Jh1LJOZvZBVFI6eZWtC_V","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}}]},"actionData":null,"errors":null}

joy buzzer

noun

Word of the Day