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":"rl7q3XqmCsGotehQhT84h","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchWordsNearby/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"before":[{"slug":"lithia-water","entry":"lithia water"},{"slug":"lithic","entry":"lithic"},{"slug":"lithification","entry":"lithification"},{"slug":"lithify","entry":"lithify"},{"slug":"lithium","entry":"lithium"}],"after":[{"slug":"lithium-carbonate","entry":"lithium carbonate"},{"slug":"lithium-chloride","entry":"lithium chloride"},{"slug":"lithium-citrate","entry":"lithium citrate"},{"slug":"lithium-fluoride","entry":"lithium fluoride"},{"slug":"lithium-hydroxide","entry":"lithium hydroxide"}]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"lithium-aluminum-hydride"},"requestId":"o4vXWPNnKGlkAgYggFa_W","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"luna/fetchExampleSentences/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"tdb":[],"gbg":[]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"lithium-aluminum-hydride"},"requestId":"AtTOIOFhjvEH9TITwXb1a","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchDictionaryResults/fulfilled","payload":{"slugs":[{"entries":[{"__typename":"Entry","audioPronunciations":[],"confusableNotes":[],"genderNotes":[],"grammarNotes":[],"headword":{"displayForm":"lithium aluminum hydride","slug":"lithium-aluminum-hydride"},"idioms":[],"orderKey":99999010,"ordinal":10,"origin":null,"partOfSpeechBlock":[{"definitions":[{"antonymsConnection":{"edges":[]},"definitionSetChunks":"[{\"type\": \"def\", \"children\": [{\"text\": \"a white powder, LiAlH\", \"type\": \"text\"}, {\"text\": \"4\", \"type\": \"text\"}, {\"text\": \", used chiefly as a chemical reducing agent, especially in pharmaceutical and perfume manufacturing.\", \"type\": \"text\"}]}]","examples":[],"ordinal":1,"subdefinitions":[],"synonymsConnection":{"edges":[]}}],"inflectionSets":[],"labelSet":{"labelSetText":"Chemistry."},"ordinal":1,"partOfSpeech":"noun"}],"pronunciationNotes":[],"pronunciationSet":null,"relatedFormSets":[],"sensitiveNotes":[],"spellingNotes":[],"synonymStudy":[],"usageAlerts":[],"usageNotes":[],"variants":[],"verbPhrases":[]}],"url":"lithium-aluminum-hydride"}]},"meta":{"arg":{"slug":"lithium-aluminum-hydride"},"requestId":"Gl9TMvsXlKWUvuuj4_57V","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchResultsData/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"url":"lithium-aluminum-hydride","displayForm":"lithium aluminum hydride","canonicalSlug":"lithium-aluminum-hydride","content":[{"source":"luna","entries":[{"id":"u3bb48a285cbafaf0.-3bc55cee.14d9e6d580c.-51b2","type":"normal","entry":"lithium aluminum hydride","entrySyllabified":"lithium aluminum hydride","entryVariants":[],"homograph":null,"pronunciation":null,"predefinitionContent":"","posBlocks":[{"definitions":[{"order":1,"type":"simple","predefinitionContent":"","postdefinitionContent":"","definition":"a white powder, LiAlH4, used chiefly as a chemical reducing agent, especially in pharmaceutical and perfume manufacturing.","synonyms":"","antonyms":"","cites":[]}],"pos":"noun","posSupplementaryInfo":"Chemistry."}],"origin":null,"originData":null,"supplementaryNotes":[],"variantForms":[],"variantSpellings":[],"referenceData":[],"relatedForms":[],"confusables":[]}]}],"nearbyWordOrdinal":90675,"index-rank-01":["lithium aluminum hydride"],"index-rank-02":[],"index-rank-03":[],"index-rank-04":["lithium aluminum hydride's","lithium aluminum hydrides","lithium aluminum hydrides'"],"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":0.4485832675719855,"gradeLevel":"high_school","tunaSlug":null,"isFeaturedMetaSlug":false}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"lithium-aluminum-hydride"},"requestId":"QjGgYa2R3grZmDulHG4dU","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchSpellSuggestions/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"luna":[],"tuna":["lithic","lithe","labium","thumb","lathing","locum","lithesome","lath","loathing","them","fathom","lissom","lyceum","Lethe","lathe","lather","lathed","lethal","lethes","let time"],"lunaWithSlug":[],"tunaWithSlug":[{"displayForm":"lithic","slug":"lithic"},{"displayForm":"lithe","slug":"lithe"},{"displayForm":"labium","slug":"labium"},{"displayForm":"thumb","slug":"thumb"},{"displayForm":"lathing","slug":"lathing"},{"displayForm":"locum","slug":"locum"},{"displayForm":"lithesome","slug":"lithesome"},{"displayForm":"lath","slug":"lath"},{"displayForm":"loathing","slug":"loathing"},{"displayForm":"them","slug":"them"},{"displayForm":"fathom","slug":"fathom"},{"displayForm":"lissom","slug":"lissom"},{"displayForm":"lyceum","slug":"lyceum"},{"displayForm":"Lethe","slug":"lethe"},{"displayForm":"lathe","slug":"lathe"},{"displayForm":"lather","slug":"lather"},{"displayForm":"lathed","slug":"lathed"},{"displayForm":"lethal","slug":"lethal"},{"displayForm":"lethes","slug":"lethes"},{"displayForm":"let time","slug":"let%20time"}]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"lithium-aluminum-hydride"},"requestId":"lF4OE8EvZtANW5zJMc-1h","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}}]},"actionData":null,"errors":null}

lithium aluminum hydride

noun

Word of the Day