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ENGLISH · A WORD WITH POSSIBILITIES

jug.

A serving vessel or container, typically circular in cross-section and typically higher than it is wide, with a relatively small mouth or spout, an ear handle and often a stopper or top.

3 characters1 syllables approx.English language

Meaning & usage

noun/d͡ʒʌɡ/General-American, Received-Pronunciation/d͡ʒɐɡ/Australia, New-Zealand/d͡ʒʊɡ/Northern-England
  1. A serving vessel or container, typically circular in cross-section and typically higher than it is wide, with a relatively small mouth or spout, an ear handle and often a stopper or top.

    countable · uncountable
  2. The amount that a jug can hold.

    countable · uncountable
  3. Jail.

    countable · slang · uncountable
  4. A woman's breasts.

    countable · in-plural · slang · uncountable · vulgar
  5. An upright electric kettle.

    Australia · New-Zealand · countable · uncountable
  6. A kind of large, high-powered vacuum tube.

    countable · in-plural · uncountable
  7. The P-47 Thunderbolt fighter aircraft.

    US · countable · slang · uncountable
  8. A hold large enough for both hands

    countable · uncountable
  9. A traditional dimpled glass with a handle, for serving a pint of beer.

    UK · countable · informal · uncountable
Where this word comes from

From Middle English jugge, of uncertain origin. Possibly a variant of Middle English jubbe, jobbe, iubbe, geobbe, itself of unknown origin; or perhaps continuing (in altered form) Old English ċēac (“pitcher; jug”). Compare also jug (“a low woman, maidservant”), from Jug, familiar form of Joanna. Prison sense attested from at least 1825 in Britain.

verb/d͡ʒʌɡ/General-American, Received-Pronunciation/d͡ʒɐɡ/Australia, New-Zealand/d͡ʒʊɡ/Northern-England
  1. To stew in an earthenware jug etc.

    transitive
  2. To put into jail.

    slang · transitive
  3. To utter a sound like "jug", as certain birds do, especially the nightingale.

    intransitive
  4. To nestle or collect together in a covey.

    intransitive
Where this word comes from

From Middle English jugge, of uncertain origin. Possibly a variant of Middle English jubbe, jobbe, iubbe, geobbe, itself of unknown origin; or perhaps continuing (in altered form) Old English ċēac (“pitcher; jug”). Compare also jug (“a low woman, maidservant”), from Jug, familiar form of Joanna. Prison sense attested from at least 1825 in Britain.

noun/d͡ʒʌɡ/General-American, Received-Pronunciation/d͡ʒɐɡ/Australia, New-Zealand/d͡ʒʊɡ/Northern-England
  1. A small mixed breed of dog created by mating a Jack Russell terrier and a pug.

Where this word comes from

Blend of Jack Russell + pug.

noun/d͡ʒʌɡ/General-American, Received-Pronunciation/d͡ʒɐɡ/Australia, New-Zealand/d͡ʒʊɡ/Northern-England
  1. Detention (after-school student punishment).

    US · countable · uncountable
Where this word comes from

Probably from Latin jugum (“yoke, tether”). A folk etymology claims that it is an acronym for "justice under God" or "judgment under God". https://www.ignatius.edu/news/september-2017/jug-em-with-a-jugumhttps://catholicphilly.com/2021/10/news/local-news/local-priest-moves-closer-to-sainthood/

verb/d͡ʒʌɡ/General-American, Received-Pronunciation/d͡ʒɐɡ/Australia, New-Zealand/d͡ʒʊɡ/Northern-England
  1. To issue a detention (to a student).

    US · transitive
Where this word comes from

Probably from Latin jugum (“yoke, tether”). A folk etymology claims that it is an acronym for "justice under God" or "judgment under God". https://www.ignatius.edu/news/september-2017/jug-em-with-a-jugumhttps://catholicphilly.com/2021/10/news/local-news/local-priest-moves-closer-to-sainthood/

verb/d͡ʒʌɡ/General-American, Received-Pronunciation/d͡ʒɐɡ/Australia, New-Zealand/d͡ʒʊɡ/Northern-England
  1. To hustle or make money, usually aggressively.

    slang
  2. To acquire or obtain through force; snatch, steal; to rob, especially in reference to jugging (which see).

    slang
    I just jugged a band director; now I got a brand new saxophone.
Where this word comes from

Origin uncertain. Perhaps a shortening of juggernaut or an alteration of juke/jook. Compare juug.

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Definitions, grammatical labels, IPA, etymology and examples: Wiktionary contributors, extracted by Kaikki / Wiktextract. Adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0. Selected fields and authored examples are shown; third-party quotations and audio are omitted. See contributor history.

Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.