Definition

Noun: 1. A unit of liquid capacity: A historical unit of volume, typically equal to half a gallon (approximately 2 quarts or 1.9 liters). 2. A container: A pot, jug, or basket designed to hold this specific quantity.

Examples

• In old recipes, you might find instructions to add a pottle of ale.
• The merchant sold berries by the pottle, measured in a small wicker basket.
• He drank a pottle of wine with his meal, which was a common serving size in earlier centuries.

Advanced Usage

• The term is largely archaic and is primarily encountered in historical texts, literature, or discussions of historical measurements and trade.
• It can be used metaphorically to refer to a considerable but unspecified amount of a liquid, often alcoholic.
  • He consumed a pottle of whiskey to drown his sorrows.

Variants and Related Words

• Pottle-pot (noun): Another term for a pottle container.
• Pottle-basket (noun): Specifically refers to a small basket holding a pottle measure, often used for fruit.

Synonyms

• Half-gallon: The direct modern equivalent in volume.
• Jug: A general term for a similar container.
• Flagon: A large drinking vessel or container for liquids, often of a similar size.

Related Phrases

• A pottle of...: The standard phrase for indicating this specific measure.
  • "A pottle of milk," "a pottle of sack."

Noun

1. a pot that holds 2 quarts