A large bottle, typically made of glass and holding 1-10 gallons, often enclosed in a wicker basket for protection.
From 'demi-' (half) + 'John,' likely a corruption of 'Jehan,' a French name, or possibly from 'dame-Jeanne' meaning lady Jane in French. The etymology is debated but may reference a specific maker or origin.
A demijohn is one of the few 'demi-' words that survived into modern English because it's genuinely useful—winemakers and chemists still use them today, making it a rare medieval term that stayed relevant across centuries.
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