puncheon
A figured stamp, die, or punch, used by goldsmiths, cutlers, etcA figured stamp, die, or punch, used by goldsmiths, cutlers, etc.
» The old men slept on the puncheon floor of the cabin, while the rest bivouacked out in front.
Meaning
7 sensesA figured stamp, die, or punch, used by goldsmiths, cutlers, etc.
A short, upright piece of timber in framing; a short post; an intermediate stud.
A piece of roughly dressed timber with one face finished flat (by either hewing or sawing).
A split log or heavy slab of timber with the face smoothed, used especially for flooring but also for log cabin walls, piers, or plank roads.
A walkway or short, low footbridge over wet ground constructed with such timbers, made by laying one or more planks or dressed timbers over sills set directly on the ground.
A short low bridge of similar construction.
A cask of a certain size; its volume used as a measure of capacity varying from 72 to 120 gallons.
Examples
1 sentencesThe old men slept on the puncheon floor of the cabin, while the rest bivouacked out in front.
Origin
From Middle English punchoun, from Anglo-Norman ponchon, pounceon et al., and Middle FrencFrom Middle English punchoun, from Anglo-Norman ponchon, pounceon et al., and Middle French ponçon, poinchon et al., from Old French ponchon, from Latin pūnctiōnem (“act of piercing”). Doublet of punction. Related to Middle High German punze (“chisel; burin, graver”), ponze (“puncheon, standardized cask”), German Punze (“puncheon, punch, counter”).
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