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":"EO3aK5G1Q1LpgzNYL1dOX","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchWordsNearby/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"before":[{"slug":"strata","entry":"strata"},{"slug":"stratagem","entry":"stratagem"},{"slug":"stratal","entry":"stratal"},{"slug":"strata-title","entry":"strata title"},{"slug":"strategic","entry":"strategic"}],"after":[{"slug":"strategically","entry":"strategically"},{"slug":"strategic-arms-limitation-talks","entry":"Strategic Arms Limitation Talks"},{"slug":"strategics","entry":"strategics"},{"slug":"strategist","entry":"strategist"},{"slug":"strategize","entry":"strategize"}]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"strategic-air-command"},"requestId":"ycgBkjoJzWHC9VDqAgXxE","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"luna/fetchExampleSentences/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"tdb":[],"gbg":[]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"strategic-air-command"},"requestId":"xeeFf0p3LizEoZwZWq7gc","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchDictionaryResults/fulfilled","payload":{"slugs":[{"entries":[{"__typename":"Entry","audioPronunciations":[],"confusableNotes":[],"genderNotes":[],"grammarNotes":[],"headword":{"displayForm":"Strategic Air Command","slug":"strategic-air-command"},"idioms":[],"orderKey":99999010,"ordinal":10,"origin":null,"partOfSpeechBlock":[{"definitions":[{"antonymsConnection":{"edges":[]},"definitionSetChunks":"[{\"type\": \"def\", \"children\": [{\"text\": \"a U.S. Air Force command charged with intercontinental air strikes, especially nuclear attacks.\", \"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":"strategic-air-command"}]},"meta":{"arg":{"slug":"strategic-air-command"},"requestId":"PNDaVi9jZTAXs3RuErN70","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchResultsData/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"url":"strategic-air-command","displayForm":"Strategic Air Command","canonicalSlug":"strategic-air-command","content":[{"source":"luna","entries":[{"id":"u3bb48a285cbafaf0.-3bc55cee.14d9e78a4a4.76b2","type":"normal","entry":"Strategic Air Command","entrySyllabified":"Strategic Air Command","entryVariants":[],"homograph":null,"pronunciation":null,"predefinitionContent":"","posBlocks":[{"definitions":[{"order":1,"type":"simple","predefinitionContent":"","postdefinitionContent":"","definition":"a U.S. Air Force command charged with intercontinental air strikes, especially nuclear attacks.","synonyms":"","antonyms":"","cites":[]}],"pos":"noun","posSupplementaryInfo":""}],"origin":null,"originData":null,"supplementaryNotes":[],"variantForms":[],"variantSpellings":[],"referenceData":[],"relatedForms":[],"confusables":[]}]}],"nearbyWordOrdinal":149133,"index-rank-01":["strategic air command"],"index-rank-02":[],"index-rank-03":[],"index-rank-04":["strategic air command's","strategic air commands","strategic air commands'"],"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":"324","tunaSlug":null,"isFeaturedMetaSlug":false}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"strategic-air-command"},"requestId":"if5y0yqYnc1Mc4goT6juw","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchSpellSuggestions/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"luna":[],"tuna":[],"lunaWithSlug":[],"tunaWithSlug":[]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"strategic-air-command"},"requestId":"iCmRLGypCubnG974lzYBh","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}}]},"actionData":null,"errors":null}

Strategic Air Command

noun

Word of the Day