jug

1 of 2

noun

ˈjəg 

plural jugs

1

a(1)

: a large deep container (as of glass, earthenware, or plastic) with a narrow mouth and a handle

(2)

: the contents of such a container : jugful

b

chiefly British : a small pitcher

2

: jail, prison

3

often vulgar : breast

—usually used in plural

jug

2 of 2

verb

jugged; jugging

transitive verb

1

: to stew (something, such as a hare) in an earthenware vessel

2

: jail, imprison

Synonyms

Noun

• pitcher
• bottle
• cup
• flagon
• flask
• ewer

Verb

• jail
• intern
• imprison

Examples of jug in a Sentence

Noun

some no-good fellow who had spent most of his life in and out of the county jug

put a jug of milk on the table

Verb

the luckless crooks got jugged before they knew what hit them

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In fact, its revenue is split 50/50 between mostly drive-thru sales with some delivery of large iced tea jugs, and 50% in-café sales. —Gary Stern, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025

Bathhouses and drinking pavilions were once found all over town, and today, visitors can still take a dip in the mineral-rich waters or fill up a jug of it to take home. —Amanda Ogle, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2025

Verb

The key to jugging's success is surprise and timing. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2025

Sure, jugging a mom-and-coach role isn’t always smooth. —Luca Evans, The Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

perhaps from Jug, nickname for Joan

First Known Use

Noun

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

1747, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing jug

• jug band
• jug-eared
• jug wine
• measuring jug
• toby jug

Rhymes for jug

• chug
• doug
• drug
• dug
• hug
• lug
• mug
• plug
• pug
• rug
• rugg
• shrug

Kids Definition

jug

1 of 2 noun

ˈjəg 

1

a

: a large deep container with a narrow mouth and a handle

b

: the amount held by a jug

2

: prison sense 2, jail

jug

2 of 2 verb

jugged; jugging

: imprison