Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small container, typically made of earthenware, used for holding liquids such as oil or water. This term is now chiefly archaic or literary.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The widow's cruse of oil miraculously never ran empty. (This refers to the biblical story where a small jar of oil sustained a widow.)
  • Archaeologists discovered an ancient cruse that once held sacred ointments.

Advanced Usage

• "Widow's cruse": A proverbial or literary phrase describing a supply that appears small or limited but is, in effect, inexhaustible.
  • The endowment fund was like a widow's cruse, seemingly modest yet perpetually sustaining the library's operations.

Variants and Related Words

• Cruet (n): A small glass bottle, often part of a set, for holding oil, vinegar, or other condiments. (Note: A is a related but distinct type of container, usually for table use.)

Synonyms

• Jar: A broad, general term for a wide-mouthed container.
• Flask: A small container for liquids, often with a narrow neck.
• Vial: A very small bottle, especially for medicines.

Notes on Usage

• The word cruse is rarely used in modern everyday English. It is most commonly encountered in historical, biblical, or literary contexts.
• It should not be confused with the verb cruise.

Noun

1. small jar; holds liquid (oil or water)