ink-bottle

An artist dips a pen into an ink-bottle on the desk.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A container for ink: An "ink-bottle" is a small bottle, typically made of glass, designed to hold liquid ink for writing or drawing. It usually has a narrow neck to allow easy dipping of a pen or brush.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • He carefully unscrewed the cap of the ink-bottle and dipped his fountain pen. (A bottle containing liquid ink used for writing.)
  • The antique desk had a matching ink-bottle and pen stand. (A decorative container for ink, often part of a set.)

Advanced Usage

• "to tip the ink-bottle": (figurative) To cause a spill or disruption, often in a creative or professional context.
  • His careless comment tipped the ink-bottle of office gossip. (His remark set off a chain of negative talk.)

Variants and Related Words

• Inkwell (n): a small container for ink, often set into a desk, similar to an ink-bottle but typically built-in.

  • The scholar dipped his quill into the inkwell. (A fixed ink container on a desk.)

• Inkpot (n): another term for ink-bottle, often smaller or more informal.

  • The child knocked over the inkpot, staining the table. (A small bottle of ink.)

Synonyms

• Inkwell: a container for ink, especially one set into a desk.
• Inkpot: a small pot or bottle for ink.

Related Idioms

• "To be in an ink-bottle": (archaic) To be in a state of confusion or difficulty.
  • After the argument, he felt like he was in an ink-bottle, unable to see clearly. (To be trapped in a messy or perplexing situation.)

Phrasal Verbs

• "To ink in": to write or draw using ink from an ink-bottle, often as a final step after a pencil sketch.
  • She used the ink-bottle to ink in the outlines of her drawing. (To apply ink permanently over pencil lines.)