puncheon

¹ American  

[puhn-chuhn] / ˈpʌn tʃən /

noun

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

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

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puncheon ² American  

[puhn-chuhn] / ˈpʌn tʃən /

noun

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

2. a short, upright framing timber.

3. (in goldsmith work)

   1. any of various pointed instruments; a punch.

   2. a stamping tool.

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puncheon ¹ British  

/ ˈpʌntʃən /

noun

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

2. the volume of such a cask used as a liquid measure

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puncheon ² British  

/ ˈpʌntʃən /

noun

1. a short wooden post that is used as a vertical strut

2. a less common name for punch 2

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Etymology

Origin of puncheon¹

1425–75; Middle English ponchoun, punchon < Middle French ponçon, perhaps to be identified with puncheon ²

Origin of puncheon²

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

Example Sentences

On the barren slope above Blackjack Mine, Bracky Baldridge owned a garden patch, a shack with puncheon floors, a black birch tree.

From Time Magazine Archive

Some live in cabins with a huge log wall, Nary a window in it at all, Sandstone chimney and a puncheon floor, Clapboard roof and a button door .

From Time Magazine Archive

After Shipper Gumming had loaded on every puncheon of sugar and molasses the ship would hold, some odd space remained.

From Time Magazine Archive

"It's a puncheon of oil to nothing, and I've been hard up myself," he said.

From For Jacinta by Bindloss, Harold

And just as a bulky sugar puncheon, All ready staved, like a great sun shone Glorious, scarce an inch before me, Just as methought it said, 'Come, bore me!'

From The Land of Song, Book II For lower grammar grades by Various