DictionarybuttLarge barrel
noun

butt

A large barrel for holding liquids.

The historical cellar contains a butt of wine.

Etymology

The older word names a cask. English retains that container meaning for a large barrel used to hold liquids, especially wine or water.

More examples

  • Workers rolled the heavy butts toward the ship.
  • The merchant ordered another butt of ale.
  • One oak butt had leaked through a damaged stave.

Forms

butt · butts

Similar words

cask
A general term for a large wooden liquid container.
barrel
A common cylindrical container, not necessarily the historical butt size.