▪ I. flagon1
(ˈflægən)
Forms: 5 flagan, flakon, 6 flaccon(e, flaccoun, (Sc. flackoun), 6 flagone, 5–9 flaggon, 6– flagon.
[ME. flakon, ad. OF. flacon:—earlier flascon:—med.L. flascōn-em: see flask n.]
1. A large bottle for holding wine or other liquors; in early use sometimes spec. a metal bottle with a screw top, such as was carried by pilgrims (cf. flacon, and quots. 1578, 1647, 1653). arch.
| 1470–85 Malory Arthur vii. xiv. 234 And there shalt thou bere with the of my wyn in two flagans of siluer they ar of two galons. 1494 Fabyan Chron. vii. 540, .ii. flaggonys of golde. 1527 Andrew Brunswyke's Distyll. Waters B ij b, Take a flatte flaccon or botell of glas. 1578 Lyte Dodoens v. xxxii. 592 Gourdes..be oftentimes used (espe-cially of the Pilgrimes) in steede of flagons or bottelles. 1603 Drayton Odes v. 25 Bring forth your Flaggons (fill'd with sparkling Wine). 1647 R. Stapylton Juvenal 226 With thy netted knapsack, bisket, wine, And bursten⁓bellied flaggons. 1653 Urquhart Rabelais i. v. 26 What difference is there between a bottle and a flaggon? great difference, for the bottle is stopped..with a stoppel, but the flaggon with a vice. a 1794 Sir W. Jones Hymn to Indra Wks. 1799 VI. 340 While from their diamond flagons The feasting Gods exhaustless nectar sip. 1847 James J. Marston Hall ix, Having..divided the last drop in the flagon equally between himself and me. |
b. Recently applied by wine-merchants to a glass bottle of flattened globular shape with a neck, holding nearly twice the quantity of an ordinary wine-bottle.
2. A large vessel containing a supply of drink for use at table; now esp. one with a handle and spout, and usually a lid.
| 1512 Act 4 Hen. VIII, c. 7 §7 Basons, Flaggons, Bottles..or any other such Wares of Tin or Pewter. 1663 Butler Hud. i. ii. 115 Did they coyn..Bouls, and Flaggons, Int' Officers of Horse and Dragoons. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth ii, He set the flagon on the table, and sat down. 1883 Manch. Exam. 30 Oct. 8/4 They were supplied with beer in the usual stately German flagons with pewter covers. |
b. spec. A vessel of this description, used to hold the wine at the Eucharist.
| 1485 Churchw. Acc. St. Mary's Hill, Lond. (Nichols 1797) 114 A leeske of laton with a flakon. 1662 Bk. Com. Prayer Communion, And here to lay his hand on every vessel (be it Chalice or Flagon). 1686 Lond. Gaz. No. 2164/4 Stole..out of the Parish Church of Ashborne..a Silver gilt Flagon. 1872 O. Shipley Gloss. Eccl. Terms, Flagon, the vessel 1. on the credence for the wine at mass; 2. on the altar, if the chalice be too small. |
3. As much as a flagon will hold; also, a flagon and its contents; hence, as a measure of capacity (see quot. 1858).
| 1602 Shakes. Ham. v. i. 197 A pour'd a Flaggon of Renish on my head once. 1703 Lond. Gaz. No. 3906/2 They sent his Grace 36 Flagons of Wine. 1750 Johnson Rambler No. 49 ¶10 He had..drank many a flaggon. 1830 James Darnley xxxviii, Sending over many a flaggon of wine and hypocras. 1858 Simmonds Dict. Trade, Flagon..a measure of two quarts. |
4. attrib. as flagon-bracelet, -chain, ? a chain-bracelet to which a smelling-bottle (F. flacon) could be attached.
| 1564–78 W. Bullein Dial. agst. Pest. (1886) 11 Here is also a Flagone chaine of the hundred angelles that you did giue me in your laste greate Feuer. 1598 Lanc. Wills II. 97 One flagon cheane viijli..twoe flagon cheane braselette iiijli. 1606 Marston Parasitaster iv. i, I was a simple countrie Ladie, wore golde buttons, trunck-sleeues, and flaggon bracelets. |
▪ II. flagon2 Anglo-Irish.
(ˈflægən)
Also flaggan.
[Corrupted form of flagger1.]
= flag n.1
| 1878–86 Britten & Holland Plant-n., Flaggan, Iris Pseudacorus L.—Ireland (Belfast). 1882 Hardwicke's Science Gossip Feb. 43 Local names of plants. Co. Fermanagh.—Iris, ‘Flagons’. |