Pitcher (container)

In US English, a pitcher is a container with a spout used for storing and pouring contents which are liquid in form. In English speaking countries outside North America, a jug is any container with a handle and a mouth and spout for liquid—American "pitchers" are more likely to be called jugs elsewhere. Generally a pitcher also has a handle, which makes pouring easier. A ewer is a vase-shaped pitcher, often decorated, with a base and a flaring spout, though the word is now unusual in informal English describing ordinary domestic vessels. An example of a ewer is the America's Cup given to the winner of the America's Cup sailing regatta match.

The word "pitcher" comes from the 13th century Middle English word picher, which means earthen jug. The word picher is linked to the Old French word pichier which is the altered version of the word bichier, meaning drinking cup. The pitcher’s origin goes as far back to the Medieval Latin word bicarium from the Greek word bikos, which meant earthen vessel. Compare with Dutch beker, German Becher and English beaker.

An early mention of a pitcher was when the Biblical Book of Genesis mentions of Rebekah coming to Abraham's servant bearing a vessel with water. Another excerpt from the Bible mentions empty pitchers with lamps given by Gideon to three hundred men divided into three companies, in the Book of Judges. In the Gospels of Mark and Luke, Jesus told two of his disciples to go into the city of Jerusalem where they would meet a man carrying a pitcher of water (Greek: κεράμιον ὕδατος), and they were to follow him to locate the upper room to be used for the Last Supper.

...
Wikipedia