Microsoft QuickTips

It is said that the word pottus was used to identify any “item” or “thing” in large quantity available in one place. down the line the word ‘pott’ was used to identify the "vessel" or “container” and the more condensed from today is “pot”. where did this word pottus originate from and what did it mean. how did it go to become the word pot. how long did it take for the reformation to take palce. when did the word get into engligh dictionary.

Latin - potus (long vowel "o") medieval latin - pottus (short vowel "o") potus is "to drink" (potare is "a drink"), of an elixer. it's the same root word for "potion". eventually, the thing which held the potion (drink) became known as a "pot". from that, a person who made pots from clay became a potter and his work establishment was called the pottery. these words are found in middle english (1050-1450)