Crockery

[wyld_dandelyon]

So, the lawyer I work for never heard of crockery, which made me wonder where the word came from. Is it archaic? Or British?

If you know, please share--and if you don't, feel welcome to make up something outrageous!

Comments

[dormouse_in_tea]

It's archaic, 1750s it appears. used to be common parlance vs cutlery.

[smoooom]

Actually it's dishes, plates cups saucers etc. At least in the uses I've always heard it.

[dormouse_in_tea]

exactly.

[wyld_dandelyon]

cutlery and crockery--that makes sense.

[smoooom]

It is as far as I know a british term. It gets a lot of use over here both in Canada and the US but not every one knows it. I have no idea where it comes from. I just know when to use it (G)

[wyld_dandelyon]

Grinning back at you!

Maybe more than you wanted to know

[dsgood]

From the Online Etymology Dictionary http://etymonline.com:

crockery "earthen vessels collectively," 1719 (in crockery-ware); see crock + -ery.

crock O.E. crocc, crocca "pot, vessel," from P.Gmc. *krogu "pitcher, pot" (cf. O.Fris. krocha "pot," O.S. kruka, M.Du. cruke, Du. kruik, O.H.G. kruog "pitcher," Ger. Krug, O.N. krukka "pot"). Perhaps from the same source as M.Ir. crocan "pot," Gk. krossos "pitcher," O.C.S. krugla "cup." Used as an image of worthless rubbish since 19c., perhaps from the use of crockery as chamberpots.

Re: Maybe more than you wanted to know

[wyld_dandelyon]

LOL! The internets are wonderful. Thank you.

Definitely archaic, then, at least here in the states.

[dianavilliers]

It's in current use here, meaning basically ceramic tableware.

[valdary]

Crockery is in common use in Britain, though I notice we don't use the word as frequently as we did when I was younger. I would expect a teenager to know the word but not to use it.