Dictionary

jordan en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈd͡ʒɔɹdən/ (General-American)
• /ˈd͡ʒɔːdən/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English jordan, from Latin jurdanus, unattested outside of England and of uncertain etymology. Usually derived from a clipped form of Jordan bottle, supposedly a bottle of curative water brought back from the River Jordan by Crusaders and pilgrims to the Holy Land, but this seems unsupported in its actual attestations. Its use for chamber pots may derive from the alchemical device having been used to hold urine.

Meanings

1. (obsolete) A vessel resembling a retort bulb or Florence flask with a truncated neck and flared mouth, used by medieval doctors and alchemists.
   • Make a good lute... and þerwiþ daub þi Iordan al aboute... and putte al þi mater in þe Iordan and hange it ouer þe fier by þe necke þᵗ þe glas be almoost an hond brede fro þe coolis. 15th c., Sloane MS. 73, p. 133
2. (obsolete) A chamber pot.
   • 2.Car. Why, you will allow vs ne're a Iourden, and then we leake in your Chimney: and your Chamber-lye breeds Fleas like a Loach. c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Fourth, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:

Forms

Deriveds

jordan-pot

Synonyms

jordan-pot (chamber pot)

Translations (2)

pl kolba alchamiczna (Alchemical device and chamber pot — see also chamber pot) · la jurdanus (Alchemical device and chamber pot — see also chamber pot)