What does inkpot mean?
An inkpot is a small container, traditionally a pot-shaped one, used to hold ink for writing or drawing. Before modern fountain pens and ballpoint pens became widespread, writers commonly kept an inkpot or inkwell on the desk and repeatedly dipped a quill or other writing instrument into it. The word therefore carries a historical and literary association with manuscript writing, correspondence, and scholarly work. In contemporary usage, it can describe an ornamental container used with traditional pens, appear in historical displays, or serve as a vivid part of a scene involving old books and letters. Although an inkwell may be a more general term for a vessel containing writing ink, “inkpot” emphasizes the form of the container and its familiar place in the history of writing.
nounA small pot or pot-shaped container used to hold ink for writing or drawing, especially with a quill or dip pen.
- A small pot or similarly shaped vessel used to hold ink for writing or drawing.
"The old wooden inkpot sat beside the manuscript, its brass lid gleaming in the lamplight."
"He dipped the quill into the inkpot before adding another line to the letter."
"The museum display included a leather-covered inkpot, a quill, and several old manuscripts."
The regular plural is “inkpots.”
"The desk was crowded with inkpots, pens, and sheets of paper."
Before ballpoint pens, an inkpot was a writer's essential reservoir of ink—and a frequent companion of the quill.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does inkpot come from?
Inkpot is an English compound formed from the older words “ink” and “pot,” both of which were established in English before the compound became part of the language. The compound developed as a plain name for a vessel used to contain writing ink. Its individual elements also appear in related forms such as “inky” and in words associated with pots and potters.
Related word forms
How inkpot is actually used
The word is traditional and somewhat literary in modern English. It can be used figuratively for the source of writing ink, but that sense is less common than the literal one. British and American speakers both use the word, with the usual vowel variation between British and American pronunciation.
Easily confused with inkpot
An inkwell is a general term for a small writing ink container, whereas an inkpot more specifically suggests a pot-shaped vessel.