A jug is a type of container commonly used to hold liquids. It has an opening, sometimes narrow, from which to pour or drink, and has a handle, and often a pouring lip. Jugs throughout history have been made of metal, and ceramic, or glass, and plastic is now common. In British English, jugs are pouring vessels for holding drinkable liquids, whether beer, water or soft drinks; types of packaging for milk etc are not called jugs. In North American English these table jugs are usually called pitchers. Ewer is an older word for jugs or pitchers, and there are several others. Several other types of containers are also called jugs, depending on locale, tradition, and personal preference. Some types of bottles can be called jugs, particularly if the container has a narrow mouth and has a handle. Closures such as stoppers or screw caps are common for these retail packages.
Etymology
The word jug is first recorded in the late 15th century as jugge or jubbe. It is of unknown origin, but perhaps comes from jug a term for a maidservant, in the same period. This in turn comes from the alteration of common personal names such as Joan or Judith.
Beer jug
In certain countries, especially New Zealand and Australia, a "jug" refers to a plastic container filled with two pints of beer. It is usually served along with one or more small glasses from which the beer is normally consumed, although in some student bars it is more common for the beer to be drunk directly from the jug, which is usually served without the accompanying glass. In Britain in those parts of the county where there is a choice between a pint tankard and a straight glass of beer, a tankard may be called a tankard or a "jug". A jug of beer may also refer to a jug containing larger amounts, but if a large jug is sold it will be advertised as such in the pub and this helps to reduce confusion.
Juglet
A juglet is an ancient container for liquids, similar to but smaller than modern-day jugs.
In American folk music, an empty jug is sometimes used as a musical instrument, being played with buzzed lips to produce a trombone-like tone. It's often part of a jug band, to which ensemble it lends its name.
Examples
A variety of containers are sometimes called “jugs”.
