coaching glass: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Rare / Historical
UK/ˈkəʊtʃɪŋ ɡlɑːs/US/ˈkoʊtʃɪŋ ɡlæs/

Historical / Technical (Antiques, Glassware)

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Quick answer

What does “coaching glass” mean?

A type of small, stemless drinking glass used historically, typically for spirits or cordials.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A type of small, stemless drinking glass used historically, typically for spirits or cordials.

A specific historical glassware item from the 18th and 19th centuries, often associated with travel in coaches or with after-dinner drinks.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Equally rare in both varieties. More likely to be encountered in British texts due to the historical context of coaching in the UK.

Connotations

Connotes antiquity, tradition, and a specific era of travel and dining. No negative or positive modern connotation.

Frequency

Extremely low frequency in modern language. Used only by specialists (antique dealers, historians) or in historical fiction.

Grammar

How to Use “coaching glass” in a Sentence

The [ADJECTIVE] coaching glass was used for...He collected [NUMBER] coaching glasses.

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
Georgian coaching glassantique coaching glass18th-century coaching glassstemless coaching glass
medium
a set of coaching glassescollect coaching glassesoriginal coaching glass
weak
small coaching glassglass coachingold coaching glass

Examples

Examples of “coaching glass” in a Sentence

verb

British English

  • Not used as a verb.

American English

  • Not used as a verb.

adverb

British English

  • Not used as an adverb.

American English

  • Not used as an adverb.

adjective

British English

  • The auction featured a fine coaching-glass collection.

American English

  • She was an expert in coaching-glass history.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Not used.

Academic

Used in historical, archaeological, or material culture studies to describe specific artefacts.

Everyday

Virtually never used.

Technical

Used in antiques trade, auction catalogues, and by collectors of historical glassware.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “coaching glass”

Strong

toddy glass (if similar size/shape)

Neutral

cordial glasssmall dram glassspirit glass

Weak

shot glass (modern equivalent in function, not form)liqueur glass

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “coaching glass”

tumblerhighball glasswine glassbeaker

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “coaching glass”

  • Confusing it with modern terms related to sports or business coaching.
  • Using it in a contemporary context.
  • Assuming it is a large glass.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No, it has no connection to sports. 'Coaching' refers to travel by horse-drawn coach.

It was used for serving spirits, cordials, or liqueurs, often after a meal or during a journey.

A stemless, sturdy design with a thick base made it less likely to tip over in a moving coach or on a crowded table.

Yes, but only as an antique or a reproduction from specialist dealers or auctions, not as standard modern tableware.

A type of small, stemless drinking glass used historically, typically for spirits or cordials.

Coaching glass is usually historical / technical (antiques, glassware) in register.

Coaching glass: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkəʊtʃɪŋ ɡlɑːs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkoʊtʃɪŋ ɡlæs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • None

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine a Victorian coachman taking a quick drink from a tiny, sturdy glass that won't tip over on bumpy roads – a glass for coaching.

Conceptual Metaphor

Not applicable for this historical object term.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
In the antique shop, she found a small, stemless from the Regency period.
Multiple Choice

What is a 'coaching glass' primarily associated with?

Practise

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Five interactive tools to remember words, train your ear, and build vocabulary in real context — drawn from this dictionary.

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