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":"vkWoZvhozI4HEDElUxAK1","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchWordsNearby/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"before":[{"slug":"scarlet","entry":"scarlet"},{"slug":"scarlet-clematis","entry":"scarlet clematis"},{"slug":"scarlet-cup","entry":"scarlet cup"},{"slug":"scarlet-eggplant","entry":"scarlet eggplant"},{"slug":"scarlet-fever","entry":"scarlet fever"}],"after":[{"slug":"scarlet-gilia","entry":"scarlet gilia"},{"slug":"scarlet-hat","entry":"scarlet hat"},{"slug":"scarlet-letter","entry":"scarlet letter"},{"slug":"scarlet-lightning","entry":"scarlet lightning"},{"slug":"scarlet-lychnis","entry":"scarlet lychnis"}]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"scarlet-firethorn"},"requestId":"lFdOcv_X4LwjV67tUePv5","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"luna/fetchExampleSentences/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"tdb":[],"gbg":[]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"scarlet-firethorn"},"requestId":"w1Hgk8ZbLA3VZc_8VTeg0","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchDictionaryResults/fulfilled","payload":{"slugs":[{"entries":[{"__typename":"Entry","audioPronunciations":[],"confusableNotes":[],"genderNotes":[],"grammarNotes":[],"headword":{"displayForm":"scarlet firethorn","slug":"scarlet-firethorn"},"idioms":[],"orderKey":99999010,"ordinal":10,"origin":null,"partOfSpeechBlock":[{"definitions":[{"antonymsConnection":{"edges":[]},"definitionSetChunks":"[{\"type\": \"def\", \"children\": [{\"text\": \"a Eurasian evergreen, thorny shrub,\", \"type\": \"text\"}, {\"text\": \"Pyracantha coccinea,\", \"type\": \"emphasis\"}, {\"text\": \"of the rose family, having white, hairy flower clusters and bright red berries.\", \"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":"scarlet-firethorn"}]},"meta":{"arg":{"slug":"scarlet-firethorn"},"requestId":"eF9ISauFw_-S2sDu0Ldfi","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchResultsData/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"url":"scarlet-firethorn","displayForm":"scarlet firethorn","canonicalSlug":"scarlet-firethorn","content":[{"source":"luna","entries":[{"id":"u3bb48a285cbafaf0.-3bc55cee.14d9e760f7d.7386","type":"normal","entry":"scarlet firethorn","entrySyllabified":"scarlet firethorn","entryVariants":[],"homograph":null,"pronunciation":null,"predefinitionContent":"","posBlocks":[{"definitions":[{"order":1,"type":"simple","predefinitionContent":"","postdefinitionContent":"","definition":"a Eurasian evergreen, thorny shrub, Pyracantha coccinea, of the rose family, having white, hairy flower clusters and bright red berries.","synonyms":"","antonyms":"","cites":[]}],"pos":"noun","posSupplementaryInfo":""}],"origin":null,"originData":null,"supplementaryNotes":[],"variantForms":[],"variantSpellings":[],"referenceData":[],"relatedForms":[],"confusables":[]}]}],"nearbyWordOrdinal":135888,"index-rank-01":["scarlet firethorn"],"index-rank-02":[],"index-rank-03":[],"index-rank-04":["scarlet firethorn's","scarlet firethorns","scarlet firethorns'"],"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":"143","complexityScore":0.5042080204578833,"gradeLevel":"college","tunaSlug":null,"isFeaturedMetaSlug":false}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"scarlet-firethorn"},"requestId":"FVL-FVJOOixch5gn3obyc","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchSpellSuggestions/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"luna":[],"tuna":["fire on","frothing","for then","freshen","fire upon","forenoon","forewarn","frighten","fireman","forerun","free throw","frith","furthering","fore warn","fore-warn","farthing","marathon","froth","frown","more than","frothy","feather in","fire"],"lunaWithSlug":[],"tunaWithSlug":[{"displayForm":"fire on","slug":"fire%20on"},{"displayForm":"frothing","slug":"frothing"},{"displayForm":"for then","slug":"for%20then"},{"displayForm":"freshen","slug":"freshen"},{"displayForm":"fire upon","slug":"fire%20upon"},{"displayForm":"forenoon","slug":"forenoon"},{"displayForm":"forewarn","slug":"forewarn"},{"displayForm":"frighten","slug":"frighten"},{"displayForm":"fireman","slug":"fireman"},{"displayForm":"forerun","slug":"forerun"},{"displayForm":"free throw","slug":"free%20throw"},{"displayForm":"frith","slug":"frith"},{"displayForm":"furthering","slug":"furthering"},{"displayForm":"fore warn","slug":"fore%20warn"},{"displayForm":"fore-warn","slug":"fore-warn"},{"displayForm":"farthing","slug":"farthing"},{"displayForm":"marathon","slug":"marathon"},{"displayForm":"froth","slug":"froth"},{"displayForm":"frown","slug":"frown"},{"displayForm":"more than","slug":"more%20than"},{"displayForm":"frothy","slug":"frothy"},{"displayForm":"feather in","slug":"feather%20in"},{"displayForm":"fire","slug":"fire"}]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"scarlet-firethorn"},"requestId":"mby8FLXD9eABLcLi7gfpu","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}}]},"actionData":null,"errors":null}

scarlet firethorn

noun

Word of the Day