widow's cruse

noun

: an inexhaustible supply

Word History

Etymology

from the widow's cruse of oil that miraculously supplies Elijah during a famine (I Kings 17:8–16)

First Known Use

1729, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of widow's cruse was in 1729

Dictionary Entries Near widow's cruse

Cite this Entry

“Widow's cruse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/widow%27s%20cruse. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!