tappit-hen
Archaic/RareHistorical, dialectal (Scottish), literary.
Definition
Meaning
A Scottish term historically referring to a hen with a crest or tuft of feathers on its head; later applied to a large drinking vessel, often with a knobbed lid resembling such a crest.
1. A specific breed of domestic fowl. 2. A large pewter or silver tankard, especially one with a lid, used for ale or wine in 18th–19th century Scotland. 3. A humorous or poetic term for a large drinking vessel.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This word underwent semantic shift from literal animal to object metaphorically resembling it (a knobbed lid → a hen's crest). Modern usage is almost exclusively historical or in literary contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Almost entirely confined to British English, specifically Scottish history and literature. Unused in contemporary American English.
Connotations
Conveys Scottish cultural heritage, convivial drinking, historical settings. May appear in historical novels or descriptions of antique items.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency. Encountered in Scottish historical texts, Robert Burns' poetry, or catalogs of antique silverware.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [adjective] tappit-hen was passed around the table.They drank from a silver tappit-hen.He inherited the old family tappit-hen.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As round as a tappit-hen (plump, well-fed).”
- “To have a head like a tappit-hen (to be confused or muddled).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in historical, literary, or cultural studies focusing on Scotland or material culture.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
May appear in antiques dealing, silverware collecting, or poultry breed histories.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- The museum's collection includes a rare 18th-century Scottish tappit-hen.
- Robert Burns mentions the 'tappit hen' in his poem 'Willie Brew'd a Peck o' Maut'.
American English
- In the historical novel, the characters shared ale from a large tappit-hen.
- The antique dealer specialized in Scottish silver, including several tappit-hens.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This is an old picture of a tappit-hen chicken.
- A tappit-hen was a large cup for drinking ale long ago in Scotland.
- The silver tappit-hen, a traditional Scottish drinking vessel, was central to the clan's festive gatherings.
- The poet's reference to the 'brown tappit-hen' evokes both the conviviality of the shared tankard and a sense of Scottish cultural identity.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a hen (hen) with a tap (tappit) on its head, like the knob on an old tankard lid.
Conceptual Metaphor
FORM IS FUNCTION: The object (tankard) is named for its resemblance to another object (crested hen). POSSESSION IS CONVIVIALITY: Owning or using such a vessel implies sociable drinking.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate literally as 'курица-кран'. It is a fixed cultural term. The meaning is either a breed of chicken or a type of antique tankard.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'tapped hen', 'tap-it hen'.
- Using it to refer to a modern chicken or a regular mug.
- Assuming it's common or current vocabulary.
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'tappit-hen'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an archaic or historical term. You will only encounter it in historical contexts, Scottish literature, or discussions of antiques.
It is named for the knob or 'crest' on the lid of the tankard, which was thought to resemble the crest of feathers on the head of a specific breed of hen.
Its use was and remains almost exclusively within a Scottish context, though it may be understood by enthusiasts of British history or antiques elsewhere.
Yes, in his poem 'Willie Brew'd a Peck o' Maut' (1789), he writes: 'We are na fou, we're nae that fou, / But just a drappie in our ee; / The cock may craw, the day may daw, / And ay we'll taste the barley-bree. / ... And may his wee calf's head / Aye turn a tappit-hen!' Here, it metaphorically wishes for his small vessel to become a large, abundant one.