puncheon

[ puhn-chuhn ]

/ ˈpʌn tʃən /

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noun

a large cask of varying capacity, but usually 80 gallons (304 liters).

the volume of such a cask, used as a measure.

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Origin of puncheon

1425–75; Middle English ponchoun, punchon<Middle French ponçon, perhaps to be identified with puncheon²

Words nearby puncheon

punch bowl, punch card, punch-drunk, punched card, punched tape, puncheon, punch in, Punchinello, punching bag, punch line, punch list

Other definitions for puncheon (2 of 2)

puncheon²

[ puhn-chuhn ]

/ ˈpʌn tʃən /

noun

a heavy slab of timber, roughly dressed, for use as a floorboard.

a short, upright framing timber.

(in goldsmith work)

any of various pointed instruments; a punch.
a stamping tool.

Origin of puncheon

1325–75; Middle English ponson, punçon, ponchoun<Middle French ponçon<Latin pūnctiōn- (stem of pūnctiō) a pricking, hence, pricking tool, equivalent to pūnct(us) (past participle of pungere to prick; cf. point) + -iōn--ion

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use puncheon in a sentence

I watched the bar of sunlight slowly move over the rough puncheon floor.
A Virginia Scout|Hugh Pendexter
As cautiously as possible we removed several of the puncheon slabs next to the wall.
A Virginia Scout|Hugh Pendexter
Puncheon floors used t' be good enough fer anybody t' dance on.
The Shepherd of the Hills|Harold Bell Wright
Then, grudgingly, it rumbled over the puncheon floor until Cooper set the four chocks back under the wheels.
Shaman|Robert Shea

An hour later we came upon a small log cabin, having a roof of spruce bark, no floor, but a puncheon door and one window.
Muskrat City|Henry Abbott

British Dictionary definitions for puncheon (1 of 2)

puncheon¹

/ (ˈpʌntʃən) /

noun

a large cask of variable capacity, usually between 70 and 120 gallons

the volume of such a cask used as a liquid measure

Word Origin for puncheon

C15 poncion, from Old French ponchon, of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for puncheon (2 of 2)

puncheon²

/ (ˈpʌntʃən) /

noun

a short wooden post that is used as a vertical strut

a less common name for punch 2 (def. 1)

Word Origin for puncheon

C14 ponson, from Old French ponçon, from Latin punctiō a puncture, from pungere to prick

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012