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 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.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ʒɔɹdn̩/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ʒɔːdn̩/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)dən
• Hyphenation: jor‧dan

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.
   • 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]:

     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

Anagrams

• Jardon

Middle English

Alternative forms

• jordane, jurdan

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin jurdānus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈd͡ʒɔrdan/

Noun

jordan (plural jordans)

1. pot

Descendants

• English: jordan

References

• “jordan, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.