puncheon

C2 Topic:Tools, Machines & Construction

US /ˈpʌntʃən/ UK /ˈpʌntʃən/ See IPA manual

Freq #137186

Meanings

1

noun
US historical: a split log or heavy slab smoothed on one face and used especially for flooring

The church's puncheon floor stayed cool even in summer.
2

noun
construction: a short upright framing timber or intermediate stud

The carpenter fitted a puncheon between the sill and the beam.
3

noun
a pointed tool, die, or stamp used for piercing or marking material

The silversmith drove the puncheon into the metal to leave a maker's mark.
4

noun
a large cask of varying capacity, especially for wine or spirits

The cellar held a puncheon of rum beside several smaller barrels.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · us historical: a split log... hewn slabsplit-log plank

2 noun · construction: a short... stud post

3 noun · a pointed tool, die, or... punch die

4 noun · a large cask of varying... cask barrel

Word family

Related forms punchpunctionbarrel

Etymology

From Middle English and Anglo-French forms such as ponchon, naming a pointed tool or support and ultimately related to Latin pungere, 'to prick.' The large-cask noun entered through a related Anglo-French form but has a distinct historical development.

Topics

Tools, Machines & Construction

External links

# puncheon

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈpʌntʃən/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈpʌntʃən/
**Frequency rank:** 137186

## Meanings
1. US historical: a split log or heavy slab smoothed on one face and used especially for flooring
2. construction: a short upright framing timber or intermediate stud
3. a pointed tool, die, or stamp used for piercing or marking material
4. a large cask of varying capacity, especially for wine or spirits

## Examples
- The church's puncheon floor stayed cool even in summer.
- The carpenter fitted a puncheon between the sill and the beam.
- The silversmith drove the puncheon into the metal to leave a maker's mark.
- The cellar held a puncheon of rum beside several smaller barrels.

## Synonyms
- hewn slab
- stud
- punch
- cask

## Related Forms
- punch
- punction
- barrel

## Etymology
From Middle English and Anglo-French forms such as ponchon, naming a pointed tool or support and ultimately related to Latin pungere, 'to prick.' The large-cask noun entered through a related Anglo-French form but has a distinct historical development.

## Topics
- Tools, Machines & Construction

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