Pitcher (container)

Pitcher (container)

A pitcher is a container with a spout used for pouring its contents. Pitch was traditionally used to help caulk the seams of wooden sailing vessels. It was heated, then put into a container with a very long spout and poured over rope fibers which had first been "paid" (pressed) into the gap. The word "pitcher" is said to derive from this long spouted container used to pour hot pitch. Several phrases in popular use today date to this maritime usage. The term "the devil to pay" is said to derive from this usage. The full phrase was "the devil to pay, and no pitch hot". The "devil" in question being the most outward plank, the most difficult one to caulk.

An ewer is a pitcher, often decorated, with a base, oval body, and flaring spout. A famous example is the America's Cup trophy.

ee also

*Bridge spouted vessel

Gallery

ee also

*Aquamanile


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  • Pitcher (disambiguation) — Pitcher may refer to the following: Baseball and softball*Pitcher, a playing position in the game of baseball or softball. See also: **Starting pitcher, the pitcher who pitches the first pitch **Relief pitcher, a pitcher who enters the game after …   Wikipedia

  • pitcher — [n1] jug amphora, bottle, canteen, carafe, container, crock, cruet, decanter, ewer, flagon, flask, jar, vase, vessel; concept 494 pitcher [n2] baseball pitcher ace*, baseball player, closer, hurler, knuckleballer, middle reliever, reliever;… …   New thesaurus

  • pitcher — pitcher1 [pich′ər] n. [ME picher < OFr pichier < VL * piccarium, var. of bicarium, jug, cup: see BEAKER] 1. a) a container, usually with a handle and lip, for holding and pouring liquids b) as much as a pitcher will hold 2. Bot. ASCIDIUM… …   English World dictionary

  • pitcher — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) n. carafe, jug, jar, bottle, vessel, ewer, cruet, decanter; hurler, tosser, arm (sl.), chucker, spitballer, relief or starting pitcher, left or right hander, righty, lefty, portsider, southpaw. See… …   English dictionary for students

  • pitcher — noun 1 (AmE) container for liquid with a lip ⇨ See also ↑jug ADJECTIVE ▪ water ▪ ceramic, glass, plastic VERB + PITCHER ▪ fill …   Collocations dictionary

  • pitcher — [[t]pɪ̱tʃə(r)[/t]] pitchers 1) N COUNT A pitcher is a jug. [mainly AM] ...a pitcher of iced water. Syn: ewer 2) N COUNT A pitcher is a large container made of clay. Pitchers are usually round in shape and have a narrow neck and two handles shaped …   English dictionary

  • pitcher — pitch|er [ˈpıtʃə US ər] n [Sense: 1; Date: 1700 1800; Origin: PITCH2] [Sense: 2 3; Date: 1200 1300; : Old French; Origin: pichier, from Medieval Latin bicarius drinking cup , from Greek bikos clay pot for liquids ] 1.) …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • pitcher — noun (C) 1 AmE or BrE old fashioned a container for holding and pouring liquids with a handle and a spout (=shaped part for pouring); jug 1 (1): a pitcher of water 2 BrE a large container for holding and pouring liquids, usually made of clay,… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • pitcher — UK [ˈpɪtʃə(r)] / US [ˈpɪtʃər] noun [countable] Word forms pitcher : singular pitcher plural pitchers 1) a) British a container made of clay with two handles, used for holding liquids b) mainly American a jug for serving liquids from 2) the player …   English dictionary

  • pitcher — I. noun Etymology: Middle English picher, from Anglo French, from Medieval Latin bicarius drinking cup Date: 13th century 1. a container for holding and pouring liquids that usually has a lip or spout and a handle 2. a modified leaf of a pitcher… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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