Engineering:Gallipot

From HandWiki
Top view of a modern gallipot

A gallipot is a small jar, traditionally of glazed earthenware, used by apothecaries for holding ointment or medicine.[1] In the 21st century gallipots are available in plastic: a sales catalogue describes one with a 60ml capacity as "For general use, surgical procedures, and other medical uses; Useful for holding medicines or ointments".[2] Another supplier offers both single-use and reusable gallipots of 60ml and 280ml.[3]

The term, recorded from the 15th century, may derive from the idea of pots originally imported in galleys,[4] and has also been used for small pots used for other purposes - such as preparing an individual portion of custard[5] or melting wax while making fishing flies.[6]

A building outside which stands a pub sign with the wording "The Gallipot Inn 16th century freehouse"
The Gallipot Inn

The 16th-century Gallipot Inn in Hartfield, Sussex, England, is said to take its name "from the small glazed earthenware pots made to contain medicines and ointments that were once produced on-site".[7]

Gallipots in a variety of shapes are held in several museums.

References

  1. "Gallipot". https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gallipot. Retrieved 16 Apr 2022. 
  2. "60ml Sterile Gallipot". St John Ambulance. https://www.sja.org.uk/first-aid-supplies/first-aid-supplies-and-consumables/receptacles/gallipot-60ml-sterile/. 
  3. "Search results for: 'gallipot'" (in en). https://www.medisave.co.uk/search/?q=gallipot. 
  4. gallipot (3rd ed.), Oxford University Press, September 2005, http://oed.com/search?searchType=dictionary&q=gallipot  (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  5. National Training School for Cookery (London) (1877). "Sickroom cookery: Savoury custard" (in en). The Official Handbook for the National Training School for Cookery: Containing the Lessons on Cookery which Constitute the Course of Instruction in the School .... Chapman and Hall. p. 404. https://books.google.com/books?id=KP4pAAAAYAAJ&q=gallipot&pg=PA404. "We take a small gallipot and butter it inside" 
  6. Hutchinson, Horace Gordon (1851) (in en). Fly-fishing in Salt and Fresh Water. J. Van Voorst. p. 55. https://books.google.com/books?id=D1ZDAAAAIAAJ&q=gallipot&pg=PA55. Retrieved 28 April 2021. "To dissolve the wax, put a small piece in a gallipot ... then put the gallipot in a cup of warm water" 
  7. "The Gallipot Inn" (in en). 14 December 2015. https://www.foodanddrinkguides.co.uk/england/south-east/wealden/hartfield/gallipot-inn. 
  8. "Vase (gallipot)". https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/52885. 
  9. "Gallipot, 18th century". https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/41974.