jordan

See also: Jordan, jordán, Jordán, and Jórdan

English

Alternative forms

• (obsolete): iurdan, iurdane, iurdone, yordan, iourden, iorden, jurdon, jordon, jourdon, jordain, jurden, jourdan, jorden

Etymology

From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] 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.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈdʒɔːdən/

Noun

jordan (plural jordans)

1. (obsolete) A vessel resembling a retort bulb or Florence flask with a truncated neck and flared mouth, used by medieval doctors and alchemists.
   • 15th c., Sloane MS. 73, p. 133:

     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 þ^t þe glas be almoost an hond brede fro þe coolis.

2. (obsolete) A chamber pot.
   • 1387, Chaucer, “v. 9379”, in The Pardoner's Tale‎^[1]:

     And eek thyne urynals and thy jurdones,
     Thyn ypocras, and eek thy galiones

   • 1440, Promptorium Parvulorum, p. 267:

     Iurdone, pyssepotte, iurdanus.

   • a. 1598, William Shakespeare, The First Part of Henry the Fourth, Act II, Scene i:

     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.

Synonyms

• (chamber pot): jordan-pot, see also Thesaurus:chamber pot

Derived terms

• jordan-pot

Translations

Alchemical device and chamber pot — see also chamber pot

• Latin: jurdanus
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}

Anagrams

• Jardon