Forms: 1 canne, (4 cane), 4–7 canne, kan, 5–6 kanne, 6–9 cann, 6– can. [app. Com. Teut.: OE. canne:—WGer. kanna weak fem. (whence MDu. kanne, Du. kan, OHG. channa, MHG. and Ger. kanne); also ON. kanna (Sw. kanna, Da. kande):—OTeut. type *kannôn-. The word occurs also in med.L. canna, app. from Teutonic. The Germanic origin of the word is questioned; but the form is not derivable from L. cantharus pot, and L. canna ‘reed, pipe,’ does not suit the sense. (In OE., only in a glossary, where it might be from L.)]

1

  1.  A vessel for holding liquids; formerly used of vessels of various materials, shapes, and sizes, including drinking-vessels; now generally restricted to vessels of tin or other metal, mostly larger than a drinking-vessel, and usually cylindrical in form, with a handle over the top.

2

a. 1000.  Ælfric, Voc., in Wr.-Wülcker, 122. Crater, uel canna, canne.

3

c. 1375.  ? Barbour, St. Laurentius, 361. He brocht a vatir-cane & Laurens hyme baptist þane.

4

1388.  Wyclif, John ii. 6. There weren set sixe stonun cannes [1382 pottis].

5

a. 1400.  Cov. Myst., 259 (Mätz.). Beryng a kan with watyr.

6

1485.  Inv., in Ripon Ch. Acts, 370. Duo kannes de ligno.

7

1535.  Coverdale, Hosea iii. 1. They … loue the wyne kannes.

8

1562.  J. Heywood, Prov. & Epigr. (1867), 49. Mery we were as cup and can could holde.

9

1598.  B. Jonson, Ev. Man in Hum., II. v. (1616), 27. Two cannes of beere.

10

1649.  Blithe, Eng. Improv. Impr. (1652), 130. The Buckets or Kans to take up thy Water.

11

1719.  D’Urfey, Pills (1872), III. 247. Now what do you say to the Cans of wood?

12

1731.  Bailey, Cann, a wooden Pot to drink out of.

13

1755.  Johnson, Can, a cup; generally a cup made of metal, or some other matter than earth.

14

1800.  Wordsw., Pet Lamb, xi. I have brought thee in this can Fresh water from the brook.

15

1803.  Scott, Bonnie Dundee. Come fill up my cup, come fill up my can.

16

1838.  Dickens, O. Twist, xlv. The milk-can was standing by itself outside a public-house.

17

1842.  Tennyson, Will Waterproof, xxii. The truth, that flies the flowing can, Will haunt the vacant cup.

18

  b.  (from its shape) A chimney-pot.

19

1833.  Act 3 & 4 Will. IV., xlvi. § 103. Chimney cans or pots.

20

1866.  Glasgow Police Act 29 & 30 Vic. cclxxiii. § 384. To repair any Chimney Head or Can.

21

  † 2.  Sc. A measure of capacity. Obs.

22

1809.  Edmonstone, Zetland Isles, I. 163 (Jam.). About three-fourths of a can or gallon of oil.

23

  3.  A vessel of tinned iron, in which flesh of animals, fish, fruit, etc., are ‘tinned,’ or sealed up air-tight for preservation (chiefly in U.S.).

24

1874.  Harper’s Weekly, 26 Sept., 799/2 (Hoppe). Salmon … pickled, wmoked, and put up in cans.

25

  4.  Comb., as can-carrier, -maker; can-quaffing adj. See also CAN-BUOY, CANDOCK, CAN-HOOK.

26

1597.  Return fr. Pernass., II. I. ii. 170. Can-quaffing hucksters.

27

a. 1611.  Beaum. & Fl., Philaster, V. iii. My kind can-carriers.

28

1623.  Reg. St. Mary Bredman, Canterb., Thomas Colle Cannemaker.

29