-pot- comes from Latin, where it has the meaning "power; ability.'' This meaning is found in such words as: impotence, impotent, omnipotent, plenipotentiary, potency, potent, potential.
pot1(pot),USA pronunciationn., v.,pot•ted, pot•ting. n.
a container of earthenware, metal, etc., usually round and deep and having a handle or handles and often a lid, used for cooking, serving, and other purposes.
such a container with its contents:a pot of stew.
the amount contained in or held by a pot; potful.
a flowerpot.
a container of liquor or other drink:a pot of ale.
liquor or other drink.
Botanya cagelike vessel for trapping fish, lobsters, eels, etc., typically made of wood, wicker, or wire. Cf. lobster pot.
a chamber pot.
Metallurgy
a vessel for melting metal; melting pot.
an electrolytic cell for reducing certain metals, as aluminum, from fused salts.
British Terms
See chimney pot.
[Dial.]a basket or box used for carrying provisions or the like; a pannier.
Slang Termsa large sum of money.
all the money bet at a single time; pool.
British Terms(in horse racing) the favorite.
See potshot.
Weights and Measuresa liquid measure, usually equal to a pint or quart.
[Armor.]
an open, broad-brimmed helmet of the 17th century.
any open helmet.
Slang Termsa potbelly.
Idiomsgo to pot, to become ruined; deteriorate:With no one to care for it, the lovely old garden went to pot.
Idiomssweeten the pot. See sweeten (def. 8).
v.t.
to put into a pot.
to preserve (food) in a pot.
to cook in a pot.
to transplant into a pot:We must pot the petunias.
Sport[Hunting.]
to shoot (game birds) on the ground or water, or (game animals) at rest, instead of in flight or running:He can't even pot a sitting duck.
to shoot for food, not for sport.
Informal Termsto capture, secure, or win.
v.i.
Informal Termsto take a potshot; shoot.
1150–1200; Middle English pott (see potter1); cognate with Dutch, Low German pot (perh. French pot)
pot′like′, adj.
pot2(pot),USA pronunciationn.[Slang.]
Drugs, Slang Termsmarijuana.
said to be a shortening of Mexican Spanish potiguaya or potaguaya, apparently contraction of potación de guaya wine or brandy in which marijuana buds have been steeped (literally, drink of grief ) 1935–40, American.
pot3(pot),USA pronunciationn.[Scot. and North Eng.]
Scottish Termsa deep hole; pit.
1325–75; Middle English; perh. identical with pot1
a container made of earthenware, glass, or similar material; usually round and deep, often having a handle and lid, used for cooking and other domestic purposes
stir the pot ⇒ to cause trouble or controversy, esp deliberately
(pots, potting, potted)(mainly tr)
to put or preserve (goods, meat, etc) in a pot
to shoot (game) for food rather than for sport
(also intr)to shoot casually or without careful aim at (an animal, etc)
(also intr)to shape clay as a potter
to pocket (a ball)
to capture or win; secure
Etymology: Late Old English pott, from Medieval Latin pottus (unattested), perhaps from Latin pōtus a drink; compare Middle Low German pot, Old Norse pottr
pot/pɒt/
cannabis used as a drug in any form, such as leaves (marijuana or hemp) or resin (hashish)
Etymology: 20th Century: perhaps shortened from local Mexican word potiguaya