Bottles

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈbɑtl̩z/

Definitions

1. A typical container used for holding liquids, often with a narrow neck and typically made of glass or plastic
2. Objects designed to store beverages or other liquids securely, often capped or sealed
3. Items that can be recycled or reused, often found in various shapes and sizes for different liquids

Etymology: The noun "bottle" has a surprising twin: an Old English word meaning "building." Before the container sense arrived, Old English "botl" meant a dwelling or house, from a Proto-Germanic root that also gave rise to Dutch "boedel" (estate) and Icelandic "ból" (farm, lair). The idea was of a place that is settled and lived in, and the same root is related to Old English "bytlan," "to build." The container sense came later, through Late Latin "butticula," a diminutive of "buttis," meaning cask. It passed through Old French "boteille" into Middle English as "botel," meaning a flask or wineskin. Its meaning had shifted from home to vessel, and the two English words "bottle" and "botel" had merged by the time the container sense became dominant. Old English already had its own words for vessels, such as "ampella" and "flasce," but those were eventually displaced by the French-derived term. The plural "bottles" is simply the regular plural of "bottle."

Synonyms: containers, flasks, vessels, carafes, jugs