teapotful

plural teapotfuls · plural teapotsful

1. As much as a teapot will hold.

   Apply hot water to the bottom half of the radiator. It may take several teapotsful, but in a few minutes, circulation will be restored.

   1921 February, paper; quoted in Dorothy June Williams, The Hancock County Kaleidoscope, 1917 to 1967: The Changing Scene in One of Central Indiana’s Suburban-Rural Counties, 1976, page 28

   2 more examples

   In spite of the apostolic zeal of the Christians, who organized expeditions to annihilate the idols, which they broke, smashed, and burned, and in spite of their persecution of the heathen, whom they captured, scourged, chained, locked in stocks or dark cells, and sometimes roasted alive, the ancient faith was always rekindled, more potent than ever, like a ravenous fire that one attempts to douse with teapotsful of water.

   2002, Alfonso Toro, translated by Frances Hernandez, The Carvajal Family, Texas Western Press, →ISBN, page 135

   She filled up the plastic teapot with water, and then we each had our own teacup. The idea was that if you landed on certain squares you had to get some pours of water, or a spoon or some plastic sugar lumps in your cup.[…]By the end we were tipping whole teapotfuls down each other’s necks, and giggling like idiots. It was a full-on water fight.

   2014, Dawn McNiff, Little Celeste, Hot Key Books, →ISBN