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pun·cheon²

(pŭnchən)

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.

[Middle English punchoun, from Anglo-Norman ponchon, punching tool, cask (probably because the casks were inspected and marked with a punch); see PUNCHEON¹.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

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Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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