puncheon

1
[ puhn-chuhn ]

noun
  1. a large cask of varying capacity, but usually 80 gallons (304 liters).

  2. the volume of such a cask, used as a measure.

Origin of puncheon

1
1425–75; Middle English ponchoun, punchon<Middle French ponçon, perhaps to be identified with puncheon2

Words Nearby puncheon

Other definitions for puncheon (2 of 2)

puncheon2
[ puhn-chuhn ]

noun
  1. a heavy slab of timber, roughly dressed, for use as a floorboard.

  2. a short, upright framing timber.

  1. (in goldsmith work)

    • any of various pointed instruments; a punch.

    • a stamping tool.

Origin of puncheon

2
1325–75; Middle English ponson, punçon, ponchoun<Middle French ponçon<Latin pūnctiōn- (stem of pūnctiō) a pricking, hence, pricking tool, equivalent to pūnct(us) (past participle of pungere to prick; cf. point) + -iōn--ion

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use puncheon in a sentence

  • I watched the bar of sunlight slowly move over the rough puncheon floor.

    A Virginia Scout | Hugh Pendexter
  • As cautiously as possible we removed several of the puncheon slabs next to the wall.

    A Virginia Scout | Hugh Pendexter
  • puncheon floors used t' be good enough fer anybody t' dance on.

    The Shepherd of the Hills | Harold Bell Wright
  • Then, grudgingly, it rumbled over the puncheon floor until Cooper set the four chocks back under the wheels.

    Shaman | Robert Shea
  • An hour later we came upon a small log cabin, having a roof of spruce bark, no floor, but a puncheon door and one window.

    Muskrat City | Henry Abbott

British Dictionary definitions for puncheon (1 of 2)

puncheon1

/ (ˈpʌntʃən) /


noun
  1. a large cask of variable capacity, usually between 70 and 120 gallons

  2. the volume of such a cask used as a liquid measure

Origin of puncheon

1
C15 poncion, from Old French ponchon, of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for puncheon (2 of 2)

puncheon2

/ (ˈpʌntʃən) /


noun
  1. a short wooden post that is used as a vertical strut

  2. a less common name for punch 2 (def. 1)

Origin of puncheon

2
C14 ponson, from Old French ponçon, from Latin punctiō a puncture, from pungere to prick

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012