Decanter
/dɪˈkæn.tər/noun
A vessel used to pour and serve liquids, especially wine.
Did you know?Decanter comes from the same Latin root as 'decant'—to pour off carefully—ultimately tied to the idea of pouring liquid away from sediment, a practical act that later became a ritual of refinement.
Etymological Timeline
Late Latin
Latin
cantāre
“to sing; to chant”
Late Latin
Latin
decantāre
“to sing repeatedly; to pour off by chanting over, later to pour off carefully”
Middle French
French
décanter
“to decant, pour off clear liquid from sediment”
17th Century
English
decanter
“a vessel for decanting wine or other liquids”
Modern English
English
decanter
“a container used to hold and pour liquids, especially wine”
Explore more surprising origins