Lota

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A compact vessel frequently utilized for transporting liquids; a measure of weight in South Asia, approximately 0.3 liters; a descriptor for a minor amount or proportion of something, particularly in liquid form
2. A small vessel commonly used for holding or pouring fluid ; a traditional weight measure used in some parts of South Asia, roughly equal to 0.3 liters ; a term for a tiny amount of liquid or other substance
3. A compact container often employed to carry water or other liquids ; a customary unit of mass in South Asian regions, approximately 0.3 liters in volume ; an expression meaning a very small portion of a fluid

Etymology: The lota is a small, round-bottomed metal water pot, a fixture of daily life across South Asia, used for washing and drinking. Its name comes from Hindi "loṭā" and Urdu "لوٹا" (loṭā), and the word passed into English from those languages. Its best-known English sense is figurative: a "lota" can be a person who switches loyalties, a turncoat. The reason is the pot itself. Because its base is rounded rather than flat, it will not sit steady on its own and tends to tip over and roll about, and the image of a vessel that cannot stay upright gave the word its political meaning.

Synonyms: fish, cod