A large, usually glass or plastic bottle with thick walls, typically holding 10-50 gallons of liquid, often used for storing acids, chemicals, or water.
From Persian qarbah (large bottle) via Dutch karbouw (water jug). Entered English in the 17th century from trade contacts with Persia and the Dutch East India Company.
Carboys became iconic in chemistry labs and laboratories because they're tough enough to hold nasty chemicals and large enough to be economical—and early scientists discovered that careful observation of carboy contents actually helped them understand how chemical reactions work at larger scales.
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