pot

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | 700+ words | Copyright

pot round or cylindrical vessel used as a container. Late OE. pott, corr. to OFris., (M)LG., (M)Du. pot — popL. *pottus (whence (O)F. pot), of unkn. orig.; prob. reinforced in ME. from OF. The north. word meaning deep hole, pit (XIV) may be identical or may be of Scand. orig.; so prob. pot-hole XIX. comb. pothook hook to hang over a fireplace XV; hooked character in writing XVII. pot-hunter † perh. sycophant, parasite XVI; sportsman who shoots anything he comes across XVIII; (sl.) one who competes in a contest merely for the prize XIX. pot-luck one's chance of what may be in the pot ready for a meal. XVI. potsherd (arch.) fragment of earthenware. XIV. pot shot shot taken at game merely to provide something for the pot, shot aimed directly at something within reach. XIX. potwaller householder qualified to vote as having a separate fire-place. XVIII. lit. ‘pot-boiler’; alt. to pot-walloper (XVIII) by assim. to WALLOP.

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T. F. HOAD. "pot." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "pot." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-pot.html

T. F. HOAD. "pot." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-pot.html

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