a liquid and also dry measure of capacity, equal to one half of a liquid and dry quart respectively, approximately 35 cubic inches (0.473 liter). Abbreviation: pt, pt.
Origin of pint
1350–1400;Middle Englishpynte < Old Frenchpinte or Middle Dutch,Middle Low Germanpinte
a unit of liquid measure of capacity equal to one eighth of a gallon. 1 Brit pint is equal to 0.568 litre, 1 US pint to 0.473 litre
a unit of dry measure of capacity equal to one half of a quart. 1 US dry pint is equal to one sixty-fourth of a US bushel or 0.5506 litre
a measure having such a capacity
Britishinformal
a pint of beer
a drink of beerhe's gone out for a pint
Word Origin for pint
C14: from Old French pinte, of uncertain origin; perhaps from Medieval Latin pincta marks used in measuring liquids, ultimately from Latin pingere to paint; compare Middle Low German, Middle Dutch pinte
mid-14c., from Old French pinte "liquid measure, pint" (13c.), probably from Vulgar Latin *pincta (source of Old Provençal, Spanish, Italian pinta), altered from Latin picta "painted," fem. past participle of pingere "to paint" (see paint (v.)), on notion of a painted mark on a vessel indicating this measure. Used elliptically for "pint of ale" (or beer) from 1742. Pint-sized "small" (especially in reference to children) is recorded from 1938.
A unit of liquid volume or capacity in the US Customary System, equal to 16 fluid ounces or 28.88 cubic inches (about 0.47 liter).
A unit of dry volume or capacity used in the US Customary System, equal to 12 of a quart or 34.6 cubic inches (about 0.55 liter). See Table at measurement.
