cask definition

English

Etymology

From Middle French casque. Doublet of casco and casque.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /kɑːsk/
• (US) IPA^(key): /kæsk/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æsk

Noun

cask (plural casks)

1. A large barrel for the storage of liquid, especially of alcoholic drinks.
2. (obsolete) A casket; a small box for jewels.
   • 1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358, [Act III, scene ii], line 409:

     A jewel, locked into the woefullest cask / That ever did contain a thing of worth.

3. Obsolete form of casque (“visorless helmet”).

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

cask (third-person singular simple present casks, present participle casking, simple past and past participle casked)

1. To put into a cask.

Related terms

• quash

Anagrams

• ACKs, KCAS, SKCA, acks, sack