Capful

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈkæpfʊl/

Definitions

1. A quantity representing the volume contained in a container's lid when filled to the top
2. A measurement referring to the amount one can hold in the top of a bottle's cap when it is full
3. This is a volume measure equivalent to what fits in a cap when completely filled

Etymology: "Capful" is a plain compound: "cap" combined with the suffix "-ful," which means "as much as will fill" the thing named. The suffix is the same one found in "spoonful," "handful" and "mouthful," so a capful is simply the amount a cap can hold when filled to the brim. The word is a straightforward formation rather than a coinage with a famous backstory. Its meaning follows directly from the parts: a bottle cap, or the cap of a measuring vessel, serves as a convenient unit of liquid, most familiar on laundry detergent and cleaning product labels, where the instructions often call for a single capful per load.

Synonyms: spoonful, measure