ink-pot
Definition
- Noun:
- A small container, typically made of glass, ceramic, or metal, used to hold ink for writing with a pen or quill. Historically common before the advent of cartridge-based pens and modern ink bottles.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- She dipped her quill into the ink-pot before writing the letter. (A container for ink used in traditional writing.)
- The antique desk was equipped with a brass ink-pot and a set of pens. (A decorative or functional container for ink.)
Advanced Usage
"ink-pot" as a historical object: Often found in studies, libraries, or schools of the 18th and 19th centuries, an ink-pot was a standard part of a writer's equipment.
- The scholar's ink-pot was filled with rich, black ink for his manuscripts. (A container used by a scholar for writing.)
"ink-pot" in literature: Sometimes used metaphorically to represent the act of writing or the source of written words.
- The poet's ink-pot seemed never to run dry, as he produced verse after verse. (The source of his creative writing.)
Variants and Related Words
Inkwell (noun): A synonym for ink-pot, often referring to a small container set into a desk.
- The inkwell was built into the wooden desk for convenience. (A fixed container for ink.)
Ink (noun): The fluid used in writing or printing.
- The ink from the ink-pot stained the paper. (The liquid contained in the ink-pot.)
Pot (noun): A general container, often for liquids or food.
- The ink-pot is a small pot designed specifically for ink. (A type of container.)
Synonyms
- Inkwell: a container for ink, often with a built-in base.
- Inkstand: a stand or tray holding an ink-pot and other writing tools.
Related Idioms
"To spill the ink-pot": (archaic) To cause a mess or reveal a secret, though not a common idiom today.
- He accidentally knocked over the ink-pot, ruining the document. (To cause a literal or figurative mess.)
"To dip into the ink-pot": To begin writing or to start a creative work.
- The author dipped into the ink-pot and began his novel. (To start writing.)