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":"OGprZbsS1rV21f9cppm0x","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchWordsNearby/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"before":[{"slug":"rhetorical-stress","entry":"rhetorical stress"},{"slug":"rhetorician","entry":"rhetorician"},{"slug":"rheum","entry":"rheum"},{"slug":"rheumatic","entry":"rheumatic"},{"slug":"rheumatic-fever","entry":"rheumatic fever"}],"after":[{"slug":"rheumatics","entry":"rheumatics"},{"slug":"rheumatism","entry":"rheumatism"},{"slug":"rheumatism-root","entry":"rheumatism-root"},{"slug":"rheumatoid","entry":"rheumatoid"},{"slug":"rheumatoid-arthritis","entry":"rheumatoid arthritis"}]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"rheumatic-heart-disease"},"requestId":"F0OlyvAOKHOj5d_nQGxkT","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"luna/fetchExampleSentences/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"tdb":[],"gbg":[]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"rheumatic-heart-disease"},"requestId":"Y1UTlaimtLCPgKxpCk5vW","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchDictionaryResults/fulfilled","payload":{"slugs":[{"entries":[{"__typename":"Entry","audioPronunciations":[],"confusableNotes":[],"genderNotes":[],"grammarNotes":[],"headword":{"displayForm":"rheumatic heart disease","slug":"rheumatic-heart-disease"},"idioms":[],"orderKey":99999010,"ordinal":10,"origin":null,"partOfSpeechBlock":[{"definitions":[{"antonymsConnection":{"edges":[]},"definitionSetChunks":"[{\"type\": \"def\", \"children\": [{\"text\": \"damage to the heart, especially to the valves, as a result of rheumatic fever, characterized by inflammation of the myocardium or scarring and malfunction of the heart valves.\", \"type\": \"text\"}]}]","examples":[],"ordinal":1,"subdefinitions":[],"synonymsConnection":{"edges":[]}}],"inflectionSets":[],"labelSet":{"labelSetText":"Pathology."},"ordinal":1,"partOfSpeech":"noun"}],"pronunciationNotes":[],"pronunciationSet":null,"relatedFormSets":[],"sensitiveNotes":[],"spellingNotes":[],"synonymStudy":[],"usageAlerts":[],"usageNotes":[],"variants":[],"verbPhrases":[]}],"url":"rheumatic-heart-disease"}]},"meta":{"arg":{"slug":"rheumatic-heart-disease"},"requestId":"SB6A7Va5NCvve0F1_TXe8","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchResultsData/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"url":"rheumatic-heart-disease","displayForm":"rheumatic heart disease","canonicalSlug":"rheumatic-heart-disease","content":[{"source":"luna","entries":[{"id":"u3bb48a285cbafaf0.-3bc55cee.14d9e753c7f.43e5","type":"normal","entry":"rheumatic heart disease","entrySyllabified":"rheumatic heart disease","entryVariants":[],"homograph":null,"pronunciation":null,"predefinitionContent":"","posBlocks":[{"definitions":[{"order":1,"type":"simple","predefinitionContent":"","postdefinitionContent":"","definition":"damage to the heart, especially to the valves, as a result of rheumatic fever, characterized by inflammation of the myocardium or scarring and malfunction of the heart valves.","synonyms":"","antonyms":"","cites":[]}],"pos":"noun","posSupplementaryInfo":"Pathology."}],"origin":null,"originData":null,"supplementaryNotes":[],"variantForms":[],"variantSpellings":[],"referenceData":[],"relatedForms":[],"confusables":[]}]}],"nearbyWordOrdinal":130943,"index-rank-01":["rheumatic heart disease"],"index-rank-02":[],"index-rank-03":[],"index-rank-04":["rheumatic heart disease's","rheumatic heart diseases","rheumatic heart diseases'"],"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":[],"categoryId":"89","complexityScore":0.3841698260611101,"gradeLevel":"middle_school","tunaSlug":null,"isFeaturedMetaSlug":false}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"rheumatic-heart-disease"},"requestId":"miXudEl0hWSvD8Mw1sDcU","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchSpellSuggestions/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"luna":[],"tuna":[],"lunaWithSlug":[],"tunaWithSlug":[]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"rheumatic-heart-disease"},"requestId":"tW3QJteDOZIt3JZfZbycZ","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}}]},"actionData":null,"errors":null}

rheumatic heart disease

noun

Word of the Day