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can(1) (iou)



can noun. [kan]
[Old English canne, corresp. to Middle Dutch kanne (Dutch kan), Old High German channa (German kanne), Old Norse kanna, ult. Germanic or from late Latin canna.]
A vessel for holding liquids, now spec. one of metal, and usu. cylindrical with a handle over the top. Also (chiefly N. Amer.), any large cylindrical metal container, a bin. OE.
ashcan, jerrycan, oil can, watering-can, etc.
Wordsworth I have brought thee in this can fresh water from the brook.
b. A measure of capacity; about a gallon. Scot. E19.
A (usu. cylindrical) container of tin plate or aluminium in which food, drink, etc., can be hermetically sealed; (such a container and) its contents. Cf. TIN noun 2. M19.
J. B. Priestley We sat in the office, with a can of beer each.
a. A chimney pot. Chiefly Scot. M19.
b. A lavatory. N. Amer. slang. E20.
c. the can, jail. slang (chiefly US). E20.
d. The buttocks. N. Amer. slang. M20.
e. A protective jacket for a nuclear fuel rod. M20.
f. In pl. Headphones. slang. L20.
Phrases: can of worms: see WORM noun. carry the can (back) slang bear the responsibility or blame. in the can safely recorded on film, tape, etc., completed. take the can (back) slang = carry the can (back) above. tie a can on, tie a can to: see TIE verb1.
Comb.: can bank a collection point to which empty cans may be taken for recycling; can-buoy a large cone-shaped marker buoy; can-dock a water lily, esp. of the yellow-flowered species; can-opener a tool for opening cans of food etc.
canful noun as much or as many as a can will hold, the contents of a can E18.