A small container or flask, typically made of earthenware, leather, or metal, used for carrying beverages like ale or water.
From Old French 'costrel' and Medieval Latin 'costrelus', possibly related to 'costa' (rib) because the flask was ribbed or shaped like a ribcage. This term was common in the Middle Ages and Shakespeare's time for workers' drinking vessels.
In Shakespeare's day, farm workers and soldiers didn't have backpacks with water bottles—they carried costrils slung over their shoulders. These small practical containers show how everyday objects had different names in different eras, and how archaeologists can identify what people drank from centuries ago.
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