Puncheon

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈpÊŒntʃən/

Origin

From Anglo-Norman ponchon, pounceon et al., and Middle French ponçon, poinchon et al., from Latin punctio ("action of piercing").

Alternative forms

• punchion

Full definition of puncheon

Noun

1. A figured stamp, die, or punch, used by goldsmiths, cutlers, etc.
2. A short, upright piece of timber in framing; a short post; an intermediate stud.
3. A split log or heavy slab of timber with the face smoothed, used for flooring or construction.
• 1891, Mary Noailles Murfree, In the "Stranger People's" Country, Nebraska 2005, p. 7:he chose to regard father with a lowering and suspicious mien, unless it were in the dead hours of the night, when he developed a morbid craving to be trotted back and forth and up and down the puncheon floor ....
4. A cask used to hold liquids, having a capacity varying from 72 to 120 gallons; a tercian.
• 1882, James Edwin Thorold Rogers, A History of Agriculture and Prices in England, p. 205:Again, by 28 Hen. VIII, cap. 14, it is re-enacted that the tun of wine should contain 252 gallons, a butt of Malmsey 126 gallons, a pipe 126 gallons, a tercian or puncheon 84 gallons, a hogshead 63 gallons, a tierce 41 gallons, a barrel 31.5 gallons, a rundlet 18.5 gallons.
• 1913, D. H. Lawrence, ,Then he went to the scullery, wetted his hands, scooped the last white dough out of the punchion, and dropped it in a baking-tin.