beaker

From Middle English bekyr, biker, from Old Norse bikarr (“cup”), from Old Saxon bikeri (“cup”), from Proto-West Germanic *bikārī, from Late Latin bīcārium (“wine vat, jug”), of disputed origin. Possibly from Ancient Greek βῖκος (bîkos, “earthenware jug, wine jar”), or from Latin bacarium (“wine vat, vase”).

Cognate with Saterland Frisian Bieker (“mug, cup, beaker”), Dutch beker (“beaker, cup”), German Becher (“beaker, cup, goblet”), Danish bæger (“beaker”), Italian bicchiere (“cup, glass (for drink)”). Doublet of pitcher.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈbiːkə(ɹ)/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈbiːkɚ/

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -iːkə(ɹ)

beaker (plural beakers)

1. A flat-bottomed, straight-sided, glass vessel, with a lip and often a small spout, used as a laboratory container.
2. A drinking vessel without a handle.
   • 1961, Norma Lorre Goodrich, “Beowulf”, in The Medieval Myths, New York: The New American Library, page 30:

     The beakers of mead spilled in huge puddles.

3. A mug.
4. (archaeology) An ancient bell-shaped ceramic pot with a wide mouth, narrow neck, and flaring body, used by the Beaker people during the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age.
5. (slang, Antarctica) A scientist.
   • 2008, Kim Stanley Robinson, Antarctica, page 52:

     […] at every meal break he shambled into the galley black-fingered and smelling of engine-grease and concrete floors, to contemplate over his meal the beakers at their round tables chatting away, completely oblivious […]

• (drinking vessel without a handle): glass (2nd definition), tumbler

• → Irish: bíocar
• → Welsh: bicer

• breake, e-brake, rebake