What does wineskin mean?
A wineskin is a container made from the skin of an animal, usually goat, sheep, or another domestic animal, and traditionally used for holding, carrying, and serving wine. Before rigid glass bottles and modern packaging became common, wineskins were valuable for transport because they were light, relatively durable, and could be sealed or suspended while traveling. The word is now largely literary, historical, or biblical rather than part of ordinary contemporary vocabulary. Its best-known cultural appearance is in the biblical phrase “new wine in old wineskins,” which uses the container as a vivid image of something new being placed within an old and unsuitable framework. In modern writing, mentioning a wineskin can suggest the ancient world, a long journey, rustic hospitality, or the ceremonial sharing of wine. Although people may sometimes speak more generally of a leather bottle or wine bag, wineskin has a more specific historical meaning and a strongly recognizable traditional association.
nounA wineskin is a container made from animal skin, traditionally used for storing, carrying, and serving wine. It is usually sewn into a bottle-like or bag-like shape, sometimes with a narrow neck and stopper.
- A bag or bottle made from animal skin, traditionally used to hold and carry wine.
"The traveler passed the wineskin around, and each person drank from it in turn."
"They stored the wine in a leather wineskin for the journey."
"The sermon invoked the familiar image of putting new wine into old wineskins."
The standard plural is wineskins.
"Several wineskins rested beside the cart."
The phrase “new wine in old wineskins” comes from the Bible, where it compares the incompatibility of an old established order with a new and transformative one.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does wineskin come from?
Wineskin is an English compound formed in the Middle English period from the words “wine” and “skin.” The two elements have different linguistic histories: “wine” entered English from Latin vinum through Old French, whereas “skin” is a Germanic word inherited through Old English. “Winesack” is a related English formation that likewise refers to a wine container or bag and reflects the same compound tradition.
Related word forms
How wineskin is actually used
Wineskin is now uncommon in everyday contemporary English. It is chiefly encountered in historical, literary, religious, and figurative contexts, often with associations of travel, antiquity, hospitality, or biblical imagery.