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":"4KOaVfYivq8glChqb3R1l","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchWordsNearby/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"before":[{"slug":"shadbush","entry":"shadbush"},{"slug":"shadchan","entry":"shadchan"},{"slug":"shaddai","entry":"Shaddai"},{"slug":"shaddock","entry":"shaddock"},{"slug":"shade","entry":"shade"}],"after":[{"slug":"shaded","entry":"shaded"},{"slug":"shade-deck","entry":"shade deck"},{"slug":"shade-grown","entry":"shade-grown"},{"slug":"shades","entry":"shades"},{"slug":"shades-of","entry":"shades of"}]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"Shade-cloth"},"requestId":"8MHegBDTACMx1r5A3TXIM","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"luna/fetchExampleSentences/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"tdb":[],"gbg":[]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"Shade-cloth"},"requestId":"hDWj3a7clCPmPC8EmSF1A","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchDictionaryResults/fulfilled","payload":{"slugs":[{"entries":[{"__typename":"Entry","audioPronunciations":[],"confusableNotes":[],"genderNotes":[],"grammarNotes":[],"headword":{"displayForm":"shade cloth","slug":"shade-cloth"},"idioms":[],"orderKey":99999010,"ordinal":10,"origin":null,"partOfSpeechBlock":[{"definitions":[{"antonymsConnection":{"edges":[]},"definitionSetChunks":"[{\"type\": \"def\", \"children\": [{\"text\": \"a covering made of cloth or plastic, especially one used to control the amount of sunlight to which plants are exposed.\", \"type\": \"text\"}]}]","examples":[],"ordinal":1,"subdefinitions":[],"synonymsConnection":{"edges":[]}}],"inflectionSets":[],"labelSet":null,"ordinal":1,"partOfSpeech":"noun"}],"pronunciationNotes":[],"pronunciationSet":null,"relatedFormSets":[],"sensitiveNotes":[],"spellingNotes":[],"synonymStudy":[],"usageAlerts":[],"usageNotes":[],"variants":[{"variantChunk":"{\"text\": \"or\", \"type\": \"var\", \"children\": [{\"text\": \"shade\\ue003cloth\\ue005\", \"type\": \"form\"}]}"}],"verbPhrases":[]}],"url":"shade-cloth"}]},"meta":{"arg":{"slug":"shade-cloth"},"requestId":"lyhsZ8poY5AvbvOK9Vx_t","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchResultsData/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"url":"shade-cloth","displayForm":"shade cloth","canonicalSlug":"shade-cloth","content":[{"source":"luna","entries":[{"id":"u3bb48a285cbafaf0.-3bc55cee.14d9e76ee1e.940","type":"normal","entry":"shade cloth","entrySyllabified":"shade cloth","entryVariants":["or shadecloth "],"homograph":null,"pronunciation":null,"predefinitionContent":"","posBlocks":[{"definitions":[{"order":1,"type":"simple","predefinitionContent":"","postdefinitionContent":"","definition":"a covering made of cloth or plastic, especially one used to control the amount of sunlight to which plants are exposed.","synonyms":"","antonyms":"","cites":[]}],"pos":"noun","posSupplementaryInfo":""}],"origin":null,"originData":null,"supplementaryNotes":[],"variantForms":[],"variantSpellings":[],"referenceData":[],"relatedForms":[],"confusables":[]}]}],"nearbyWordOrdinal":139360,"index-rank-01":["shade cloth"],"index-rank-02":["shadecloth"],"index-rank-03":[],"index-rank-04":["shade cloth's","shade cloths","shade cloths'"],"index-rank-05":["shadecloth's","shadecloths","shadecloths'"],"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":"Shade-cloth"},"requestId":"gIwkB1HU4Hyd6vsBvzek_","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}},{"type":"fetchSpellSuggestions/fulfilled","payload":{"data":{"luna":[],"tuna":[],"lunaWithSlug":[],"tunaWithSlug":[]}},"meta":{"arg":{"word":"Shade-cloth"},"requestId":"v-vKGd0lKUolgeHajmd8V","requestStatus":"fulfilled"}}]},"actionData":null,"errors":null}

shade cloth

noun

Word of the Day