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.]

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puncheon¹

n

1. (Mathematics & Measurements / Units) a large cask of variable capacity, usually between 70 and 120 gallons

2. (Mathematics & Measurements / Units) the volume of such a cask used as a liquid measure

[C15 poncion, from Old French ponchon, of uncertain origin]

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puncheon²

n

1. (Miscellaneous Technologies / Building) a short wooden post that is used as a vertical strut

2. (Engineering / Tools) a less common name for punch² [1]

[C14 ponson, from Old French ponçon, from Latin punctiō a puncture, from pungere to prick]