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":"LqVBH_6rejL4MuohhuqzV","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchWordsNearby/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"before":[{"slug":"yonic","entry":"yonic"},{"slug":"yonkers","entry":"Yonkers"},{"slug":"yonks","entry":"yonks"},{"slug":"yonne","entry":"Yonne"},{"slug":"yonnie","entry":"yonnie"}],"after":[{"slug":"yoo-hoo","entry":"yoo-hoo"},{"slug":"yooper","entry":"Yooper"},{"slug":"yop","entry":"YOP"},{"slug":"yorba-linda","entry":"Yorba Linda"},{"slug":"yore","entry":"yore"}]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"yoof"},"requestId":"0Xew7TNCuhQIA_59GGldf","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"luna/fetchExampleSentences/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"tdb":[],"gbg":[]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"yoof"},"requestId":"Hv_z7OjdC5Guknf-vqyON","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchDictionaryResults/fulfilled","payload":{"slugs":[{"entries":[{"__typename":"CollinsEntry","headword":{"displayForm":"yoof","slug":"yoof"},"homonym":null,"note":null,"origin":null,"partOfSpeechGroups":[{"definitions":[{"crossReferencesConnection":{"edges":[]},"definitionSetChunks":"[]","examples":[],"idiom":null,"ordinal":1,"sense":null,"subdefinitions":[{"definitionSetChunks":"[{\"type\": \"defgrp\", \"children\": [{\"text\": \"a non-standard spelling of\", \"type\": \"text\"}, {\"text\": \"youth\", \"type\": \"bold\"}, {\"text\": \", used humorously or facetiously\", \"type\": \"text\"}]}]","examples":[],"ordinal":1},{"definitionSetChunks":"[{\"type\": \"defgrp\", \"children\": [{\"text\": \"(\", \"type\": \"text\"}, {\"text\": \"as modifier\", \"type\": \"emphasis\"}, {\"text\": \")\", \"type\": \"text\"}]}]","examples":[{"text":"yoof TV"}],"ordinal":2}]}],"ordinal":1,"partOfSpeech":"noun"}],"pronunciations":[{"ipa":"jʊːf"}],"subEntry":[]}],"url":"yoof"}]},"meta":{"arg":{"slug":"yoof"},"requestId":"GWToaESRip4sK3yb9fW1A","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchResultsData/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"url":"yoof","displayForm":"yoof","canonicalSlug":"yoof","content":[{"source":"collins","entries":[{"id":"ae579f693.6bfb.1014.b87b.c2803370a23a.1","type":"normal","entry":"yoof","entrySyllabified":null,"entryVariants":"","homograph":null,"pronunciation":{"audio":null,"spell":null,"ipa":"(jʊːf)"},"predefinitionContent":"","posBlocks":[{"pos":"noun","posSupplementaryInfo":"informal","definitions":[{"order":1,"type":"group","predefinitionContent":"","subdefinitions":[{"type":"simple","predefinitionContent":"","definition":"a non-standard spelling of youth, used humorously or facetiously","postdefinitionContent":""},{"type":"simple","predefinitionContent":"","definition":"(as modifier)","postdefinitionContent":"yoof TV"}],"postdefinitionContent":""}]}],"origin":"","supplementaryNotes":[],"variantForms":[],"referenceData":[],"relatedForms":[],"derivedForms":[]}]}],"nearbyWordOrdinal":173507,"index-rank-01":["yoof"],"index-rank-02":[],"index-rank-03":[],"index-rank-04":[],"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":[],"tunaSlug":null,"isFeaturedMetaSlug":false}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"yoof"},"requestId":"YeEMBRpoF2VzPy4kw8YdE","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchSpellSuggestions/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"luna":[],"tuna":["goof","hoof","roof","woof"],"lunaWithSlug":[],"tunaWithSlug":[{"displayForm":"goof","slug":"goof"},{"displayForm":"hoof","slug":"hoof"},{"displayForm":"roof","slug":"roof"},{"displayForm":"woof","slug":"woof"}]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"yoof"},"requestId":"3f3Fh5LWv74gQDBQoA1li","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}}]},"actionData":null,"errors":null}

yoof

noun

Word of the Day