puncheon

pun·cheon ¹  (pnchn)

n.

1. A short wooden upright used in structural framing.

2. A piece of broad, heavy, roughly dressed timber with one face finished flat.

3. A punching, perforating, or stamping tool, especially one used by a goldsmith.

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[Middle English punchon, from Old French ponçon, ponchon, from Vulgar Latin *pncti, pnctin-, punch, from *pnctire, to pierce, from Latin pnctus, past participle of pungere, to prick; see peuk- in Indo-European roots.]

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pun·cheon ²  (pnchn)

n.

1. A cask with a capacity of from 72 to 120 gallons (273 to 454 liters).

2. The amount of liquid contained in a puncheon.

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[Middle English ponchon, from Old French poinçon, poinchon, punch, cask (probably because the casks were inspected and marked with a punch); see puncheon¹.]