tankard

American  

[tang-kerd] / ˈtæŋ kərd /

noun

1. a large drinking cup, usually with a handle and a hinged cover.

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tankard British  

/ ˈtæŋkəd /

noun

1. 1. a large one-handled drinking vessel, commonly made of silver, pewter, or glass, sometimes fitted with a hinged lid

   2. the quantity contained in a tankard

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Etymology

Origin of tankard

1275–1325; Middle English: bucket; compare Middle Dutch tanckaert, Middle French tanquart

Explanation

A tankard is a large, heavy cup with a handle. You might swig root beer from a pewter tankard at a Renaissance festival. Tankards are old fashioned mugs, rarely used today except as a novelty. Though they're almost always made of metal, occasionally tankards are wooden or ceramic. You might win an engraved silver-plated tankard as an award, or spy tankards in a movie during a rowdy pub scene. The word was first used in the 14th century, but it originally meant "large, tub-like vessel."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tankard

The painter might have put his sitter’s hand around some other silver object, like a coffee pot, a tray or a tankard.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026

The blue and white cans match NATO’s colour scheme and show a knight holding up a foaming tankard of beer, with the alliance’s logo stamped on his armour.

From Reuters ● May 20, 2022

Eisele has a flair for simulating reflections on shiny surfaces, whether the glistening skin belongs to a copper tankard or a green apple that glows amid beguiling aqua light.

From Washington Post ● Jan. 3, 2019

And the scene in the airport with the tankard truck — there’s not just mayhem, there’s drama, you’re learning about the characters.

From New York Times ● Jun. 9, 2017

Dripping with butterbeer and crouching out of sight, Harry clutched his empty tankard and watched the teachers’ and Fudge’s feet move toward the bar, pause, then turn and walk right toward him.

From "Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban" by J.K. Rowling