I. ˈbä-t ə l noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English botel, from Old French botele, from Medieval Latin butticula, diminutive of Late Latin buttis cask
Date: 14th century
1.
a. : a rigid or semirigid container typically of glass or plastic having a comparatively narrow neck or mouth and usually no handle
b. : a usually bottle-shaped container made of skin for storing a liquid
2. : the quantity held by a bottle
3.
a. : intoxicating drink : the practice of drinking
slipped deeper and deeper into the bottle — Anne Bernays
b. : liquid food (as milk) used in place of mother's milk
4. slang British : mettle , courage
• bot·tle·ful -ˌfu̇l noun
II. transitive verb
( bot·tled ; bot·tling ˈbä-t ə l-iŋ, ˈbät-liŋ)
Date: 1594
1.
a. : to confine as if in a bottle : restrain — usually used with up
bottling up their anger
b. : to put or keep in a position or situation that makes free activity, progress, or escape difficult or impossible — usually used with up
bottle up legislation in committee
2. : to put into or as if into a bottle
wished she could bottle that feeling of happiness
• bot·tler ˈbä-t ə l-ər, ˈbät-lər noun