flagon

plural flagons · alternative flaggon

1. A large vessel resembling a jug, usually with a handle, lid, and spout, for serving drinks such as cider or wine at a table; specifically (Christianity), such a vessel used to hold the wine for the ritual of Holy Communion.

   "He's got a venison pastry and a flagon of sack in that cupboard behind him."

   1936, Norman Lindsay, The Flyaway Highway, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 35

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   Did they coyn Piss-pots, Bowls, and Flaggons, / Int' Officers of Horse and Dragoons; / And into Pikes and Musqueteers / Stamp Beakers, Cups, and Porringers?

   1662 (indicated as 1663), [Samuel Butler], “[The First Part of Hudibras]. Canto II.”, in Hudibras. The First and Second Parts. […], London: […] John Martyn and Henry Herringman, […], published 1678; republished in A[lfred] R[ayney] Waller, editor, Hudibras: Written in the Time of the Late Wars, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: University Press, 1905, →OCLC, page 43

   He was naturally a thirsty soul, and was soon tempted to repeat the draught. One taste provoked another, and he reiterated his visits to the flagon so often, that at length his senses were overpowered, his eyes swam in his head, his head gradually declined, and he fell into a deep sleep. […] the flagon—"Oh ! that flagon ! that wicked flagon !" thought Rip—"What excuse shall I make to Dame Van Winkle?"

   1819 June 23, Geoffrey Crayon [pseudonym; Washington Irving], “Rip Van Winkle”, in The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., number I, New York, N.Y.: […] C[ornelius] S. Van Winkle, […], →OCLC, pages 75–76

   Should I ever fill the throne, every Scots lad shall have his flagon in one hand, and the other around his lass's neck, and manhood shall be tried by kisses and bumpers, not by dirks and dourlachs; […]

   1828 May 15, [Walter Scott], chapter V, in Chronicles of the Canongate. Second Series. […] (The Fair Maid of Perth), volume II, Edinburgh: […] [Ballantyne and Co.] for Cadell and Co.; London: Simpkin and Marshall, →OCLC, page 160

   1. A flagon and its contents; as much as fills such a vessel.

      A peſtilence on him for a madde rogue, a pourd a flagon of Reniſh on my head once; […]

      c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke: […] (Second Quarto), London: […] I[ames] R[oberts] for N[icholas] L[ing] […], published 1604, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]

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      [H]e had eaten many a meal, drank many a flagon, and uttered many a reproach; […] [Epitaph of Timocreon of Rhodes.]

      1750 September 14 (Gregorian calendar), Samuel Johnson, “No. [49]. Monday, September 4. 1750.”, in The Rambler, volume II, Edinburgh: [[…] Sands, Murray, and Cochran]; sold by W. Gordon, C. Wright, J. Yair, […], published 1750, →OCLC, page 182

2. archaicA large bottle for drinks such as beer, cider, or wine; also, a bottle with a cap used by travellers.

   They got there bread, and butter, and cheese and apples; the last of the winter store, wrinkled but sound and sweet; and a leather flagon of new-drawn ale, and wooden platters and cups.

   1955 October 20, J[ohn] R[onald] R[euel] Tolkien, “Minas Tirith”, in The Return of the King: Being the Third Part of The Lord of the Rings […], New York, N.Y.: Ballantine Books, published December 1978, →ISBN, book V, page 39

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   [G]o thou in an hermytage of myn here by⸝ and there ſhalt thow bere with the of my wyn in two flagans of ſiluer⸝ they ar of two galons⸝ and alſo two caſt of brede with fatte veneſon bake and deynte foules⸝ […]

   [G]o thou in a hermitage of mine here by, and there shalt thou bear with thee of my wine in two flagons of silver, they are of two gallons, and also two cast of bread with fat venison baked and dainty fowls, […]

   [1470–1485 (date produced), Thomas Malory, “Capitulum xiv”, in [Le Morte Darthur], book VII (in Middle English), [London: […] by William Caxton], published 31 July 1485, →OCLC, leaf 117, verso; republished as H[einrich] Oskar Sommer, editor, Le Morte Darthur […], London: David Nutt, […], 1889, →OCLC, page 234, lines 6–9

   Bring forth your Flaggons (fill'd with sparkling Wine) / Whereon swolne Bacchvs, crowned with a Vine, / Is grauen, and fill out, / It well bestowing, / To eu'ry Man about, / In Goblets flowing: […]

   1619, Michael Drayton, “[Odes.] The Sacrifice to Apollo.”, in Cyril Brett, editor, Minor Poems of Michael Drayton, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Clarendon Press, published 1907, →OCLC, page 65, lines 25–30

   1. archaicThe amount that such a bottle holds, about 2 pints or 1 litre.

      Three Jolly Coachmen sat, all in an English tavern, Three Jolly Coachmen sat, all in an English tavern, And they decided that, and they decided that, And they decided that: they'd have another flagon.

      traditional, “Landlord, Fill the Flowing Bowl”