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":"m_dgMpAxUsukBCzDHnyXQ","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchWordsNearby/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"before":[{"slug":"modicum","entry":"modicum"},{"slug":"modif","entry":"modif."},{"slug":"modificand","entry":"modificand"},{"slug":"modification","entry":"modification"},{"slug":"modificatory","entry":"modificatory"}],"after":[{"slug":"modified-release","entry":"modified-release"},{"slug":"modifier","entry":"modifier"},{"slug":"modify","entry":"modify"},{"slug":"modigliani","entry":"Modigliani"},{"slug":"modillion","entry":"modillion"}]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"modified-american-plan"},"requestId":"MEZYMU0QRYscTzwLkaEzy","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"luna/fetchExampleSentences/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"tdb":[],"gbg":[]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"modified-american-plan"},"requestId":"_Lrj0FcVe9yhP4x7fs5xv","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchDictionaryResults/fulfilled","payload":{"slugs":[{"entries":[{"__typename":"Entry","audioPronunciations":[],"confusableNotes":[],"genderNotes":[],"grammarNotes":[],"headword":{"displayForm":"modified American plan","slug":"modified-american-plan"},"idioms":[],"orderKey":99999010,"ordinal":10,"origin":null,"partOfSpeechBlock":[{"definitions":[{"antonymsConnection":{"edges":[]},"definitionSetChunks":"[{\"type\": \"def\", \"children\": [{\"text\": \"(in hotels) a system of paying a single fixed rate that covers room, breakfast, and one other meal, usually dinner.\", \"type\": \"text\"}, {\"text\": \"\", \"type\": \"text\", \"punc\": \"colon\"}, {\"text\": \"MAP\", \"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":"modified-american-plan"}]},"meta":{"arg":{"slug":"modified-american-plan"},"requestId":"_GS5h-65sTkt-TTqfbN7T","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchResultsData/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"url":"modified-american-plan","displayForm":"modified American plan","canonicalSlug":"modified-american-plan","content":[{"source":"luna","entries":[{"id":"u3bb48a285cbafaf0.-3bc55cee.14d9e6f2547.-b39","type":"normal","entry":"modified American plan","entrySyllabified":"modified American plan","entryVariants":[],"homograph":null,"pronunciation":null,"predefinitionContent":"","posBlocks":[{"definitions":[{"order":1,"type":"simple","predefinitionContent":"","postdefinitionContent":"","definition":"(in hotels) a system of paying a single fixed rate that covers room, breakfast, and one other meal, usually dinner. Abbreviation: MAP","synonyms":"","antonyms":"","cites":[]}],"pos":"noun","posSupplementaryInfo":""}],"origin":null,"originData":null,"supplementaryNotes":[],"variantForms":[],"variantSpellings":[],"referenceData":["Compare American plan, demi-pension, European plan. "],"relatedForms":[],"confusables":[]}]}],"nearbyWordOrdinal":100407,"index-rank-01":["modified american plan"],"index-rank-02":[],"index-rank-03":[],"index-rank-04":["modified american plan's","modified american plans","modified american plans'"],"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":["map"],"index-rank-14":[],"index-rank-15":[],"categoryId":"153","complexityScore":0.2379822651791481,"gradeLevel":"high_school","tunaSlug":null,"isFeaturedMetaSlug":false}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"modified-american-plan"},"requestId":"E2ydh4EuxxKEWDebjfWdM","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchSpellSuggestions/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"luna":["mortified","modifier","codified","MODFET","mollified"],"tuna":["America","americas"],"lunaWithSlug":[{"displayForm":"mortified","slug":"mortified"},{"displayForm":"modifier","slug":"modifier"},{"displayForm":"codified","slug":"codified"},{"displayForm":"MODFET","slug":"modfet"},{"displayForm":"mollified","slug":"mollified"}],"tunaWithSlug":[{"displayForm":"America","slug":"america"},{"displayForm":"americas","slug":"americas"}]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"modified-american-plan"},"requestId":"l0Gnsusurie_WJVy1cxLn","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}}]},"actionData":null,"errors":null}

modified American plan

noun

Word of the Day