Meanings
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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.
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2
noun
construction: a short upright framing timber or intermediate stud
The carpenter fitted a puncheon between the sill and the beam.
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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.
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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
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.