n.
- a container with a narrow neck, used for storing liquids.
▸
(
the bottle)
informal used in reference to the heavy drinking of alcohol:
he took to the bottle.
▸a baby's feeding bottle.
▸a large metal cylinder holding liquefied gas.
- Brit. informal one's courage or confidence.
v.
- place in bottles for storage.
-
(bottle something up)
repress or conceal feelings.
-
(bottle out)
Brit. informal lose one's nerve and decide not to do something.
- informal hit with a bottle.
Etymology
ME: from OFr. boteille, from med. L. butticula, dimin. of late L. buttis (see butt4).