Jar.
1. (Well-boring.) A device used in boring by impact of the chisel, which is alternately lifted and dropped. As the rope attached to the piece a is lifted, the chisel-stock C slips until arrested by the enlarged portion D. When the piece a is dropped, by the sudden slacking of the rope, the chisel falls, and the portion c comes on top of the chisel-stock D to give it an effective blow.
2. (Domestic.) A vessel of glass or earthenware for fruit, preserves, pickles, and various domestic uses. The analogue of our modern fruit-jar is found in those of the ancient Egyptians, who seem to have been given to laying in great stores of provisions in this way. The paintings on the temples and tombs of Egypt show the storing of grain, wine, oil, poultry, and many other things, and the economy of their houses, pantries, and granaries shows that they made the most ample and profuse store of provisions. As an illustration, see Plate V. Vol. 2 of Wilkinson. The jars of the accompanying cut have lids or stoppers, which are luted or rendered air-tight by liquid clay, pitch, gypsum, or mortar. Some of the jars had flat bottoms a, and were set upon the cellar or store-room floor; and others, being pointed, were set in a stone ring, like the amphorae b b and ring-base c. Late excavations on the site of Troy have exhumed ranks of enormous jars. See Fruitjar.
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| Egyptian vases and jars. |
