1
: a pointed tool for piercing or for working on stone
2
a
: a short upright framing timber
b
: a split log or heavy slab with the face smoothed

puncheon

2 of 2

noun (2)

: a large cask of varying capacity

Examples of puncheon in a Sentence

Noun (2) stored the puncheons of rum in the cellar
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
The Arizona La Osa is a 2019 Grenache aged 18 months in neutral 500-liter puncheons and bottled unfiltered. Sarah Lapidus, The Arizona Republic, 17 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English ponson, punchon, from Anglo-French ponchon pointed tool, support, ultimately from Vulgar Latin *punctiare to prick, pierce, from Latin punctum, supine of pungere — more at pungent

Noun (2)

Middle English punchon, from Anglo-French ponchon, probably from Middle French poinçon mark on goods certifying their origin

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of puncheon was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Puncheon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/puncheon. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

puncheon

noun
pun·​cheon
ˈpən-chən
: a large barrel of varying size
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