puncheon
Also found in: Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
pun·cheon 1
(pŭn′chən)n.
1. A short wooden upright used in structural framing.
2.
a. A piece of broad, heavy, roughly dressed timber with one face finished flat.
b. A walkway over wet ground made by laying planks or dressed timbers over sills set directly on the ground.
c. A short low bridge of similar construction. Also called puncheon bridge.
3. A punching, perforating, or stamping tool, especially one used by a goldsmith.
[Middle English punchoun, from Anglo-Norman ponchon, punching or piercing tool, piercing weapon, vertical strut, from Vulgar Latin *pūnctiō, pūnctiōn-, from *pūnctiāre, to pierce, from Latin pūnctus, past participle of pungere, to prick; see peuk- in Indo-European roots.]
pun·cheon 2
(pŭn′chən)n.
1. A cask with a capacity of from 72 to 120 gallons (273 to 454 liters).
2. The amount of liquid contained in a puncheon.
[Middle English punchoun, from Anglo-Norman ponchon, punching tool, cask (probably because the casks were inspected and marked with a punch); see puncheon1.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
puncheon
(ˈpʌntʃən)n
1. (Units) a large cask of variable capacity, usually between 70 and 120 gallons
2. (Units) the volume of such a cask used as a liquid measure
[C15 poncion, from Old French ponchon, of uncertain origin]
puncheon
(ˈpʌntʃən)n
1. (Building) a short wooden post that is used as a vertical strut
2. (Tools) a less common name for punch21
[C14 ponson, from Old French ponçon, from Latin punctiō a puncture, from pungere to prick]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
pun•cheon1
(ˈpʌn tʃən)n.
1. a large cask of varying capacity, often 80 gallons (304 liters).
2. the volume of such a cask, used as a measure.
[1425–75; Middle English ponchoun, punchon < Middle French ponçon]
pun•cheon2
(ˈpʌn tʃən)n.
1. a heavy slab of roughly dressed timber for use as a floorboard.
2. a short, upright framing timber.
3. any of various pointed instruments or stamping tools used by goldsmiths; punch.
[1325–75; Middle English ponson, punçon, ponchoun < Middle French ponçon < Latin pūnctiōnem, acc. of pūnctiō pricking =pung(ere) to prick (compare point)]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.