Pitcher (container)

This article is about the container. For the player in baseball, see pitcher. For other uses, see pitcher (disambiguation).

a North American beer pitcher

Minoan terracotta ewers, about 2200 BC

In US English, a pitcher is a container with a spout used for storing and pouring contents which are liquid in form. Generally a pitcher also has a handle, which makes pouring easier. An ewer is a vase-shaped pitcher, often decorated, with a base and a flaring spout, though the word is now unusual in informal English describing ordinary domestic vessels. An example of a ewer is the America's Cup given to the winner of the America's Cup sailing regatta match. In English speaking countries outside North America, a jug is any container with a handle and a mouth and spout for liquid—American "pitchers" are more likely to be called jugs elsewhere.

Etymology

Ewer, 18th century Qajar Dynasty. Brooklyn Museum.

The word "pitcher" comes from the 13th century Middle English word picher, which means earthen jug. The word picher is linked to the Old French word pichier which is the altered version of the word bichier, meaning drinking cup. The pitcher’s origin goes as far back to the Medieval Latin word bicarium from the Greek word bikos, which meant earthen vessel. Compare with Dutch beker, German Becher and English beaker.

Early recording

File:Pitcher with Black on White Geometric Designs, 900-1300, 01.1538.1756.jpg

Pitcher with Black on White Geometric Designs, Anasazi (Native American), 900-1300 C.E. Brooklyn Museum

An early mention of a pitcher was when the Biblical Book of Genesis mentions of Rebekah coming to Abraham's servant bearing a vessel with water. Another excerpt from the Bible mentions empty pitchers with lamps given by Gideon to three hundred men divided into three companies, in the Book of Judges. In the Gospels of Mark and Luke, Jesus told two of his disciples to go into the city of Jerusalem where they would meet a man carrying a pitcher of water (Greek: κεράμιον ὕδατος), and they were to follow him to locate the upper room to be used for the Last Supper.

Other religions have been known to use such water vessels, one of which is the notable Pitcher of Marwan Ibn Mohammad which predates 8th century AD. The artifact was acquired and unearthed by archeologists on May 15, 1930, currently it is on display at the Museum of Islamic Art in Cairo, Egypt.

Ewers were also popular works of art during the Tang Dynasty in China. Commonly associated with forms of glazed earthenware, these ewers bore illustrations inspired by trading along the Silk Road of Persian textiles and metal work as well as increased cultural diversity in populated Chinese cities, such as Chang'an. These items once coveted by the upper classes of China became commonplace artifacts regardless of socioeconomic status.

Idiomatic usage

"Little pitchers have big ears" is a proverb. The phrase depicts a child as the pitcher with ears hearing what people around them say or do, which is stored inside. The adults are also cautioned that the children might not be as naïve as they are perceived to be.

See also

• Amphora
• Aquamanile
• Bridge spouted vessel
• Hydria
• Jar
• Jug (container)
• Oenochoe
• Porron