flask

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flask / flask/ • n. a container or bottle, in particular: ∎  a narrow-necked glass container, typically conical or spherical, used in a laboratory to hold reagents or samples. ∎  a metal container for storing a small amount of liquor, typically to be carried in one's pocket: his silver flask of brandy. ∎  a narrow-necked bulbous glass container, typically with a covering of wickerwork, for storing wine or oil. ∎  a small glass bottle for perfume. ∎  a vacuum flask. ∎  the contents of any of these containers: a flask of coffee. ∎ hist. short for powder flask.ORIGIN: Middle English (in the sense ‘cask’): from medieval Latin flasca. From the mid 16th cent. the word denoted a case of horn, leather, or metal for carrying gunpowder. The sense ‘glass container’ (late 17th cent.) was influenced by Italian fiasco, from medieval Latin flasco. Compare with flagon.

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