Etymograph

English

inkpot

From ink + pot.

A compound of ink + pot

Ancient Greek ἔγκαυστον ‘burned-in’

Latin encaustum ‘purple ink used by Roman emperors to sign…’

Old French enque

Middle English ynke

English ink

Proto-Germanic *puttaz ‘pot, jar’

Old English pott ‘pot’

Middle English pot ‘a cookpot’

English pot

Today it means

noun A pot for holding ink, which was a necessary complement to pens without a built-in inkwell (such as a quill pen) (such pots were formerly ubiquitous but are now unusual except among people with artistic or historical interest in such pens).

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / inkpot