Vessel

Vessel Ves"sel, n. [OF. vessel, veissel, vaissel, vaissiel, F. vascellum, dim. of vasculum, dim. of vas a vessel. Cf. {Vascular}, {Vase}.] 1. A hollow or concave utensil for holding anything; a hollow receptacle of any kind, as a hogshead, a barrel, a firkin, a bottle, a kettle, a cup, a bowl, etc. [1913 Webster]

[They drank] out of these noble vessels. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

2. A general name for any hollow structure made to float upon the water for purposes of navigation; especially, one that is larger than a common rowboat; as, a war vessel; a passenger vessel. [1913 Webster]

[He] began to build a vessel of huge bulk. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

3. Fig.: A person regarded as receiving or containing something; esp. (Script.), one into whom something is conceived as poured, or in whom something is stored for use; as, vessels of wrath or mercy. [1913 Webster]

He is a chosen vessel unto me. --Acts ix. 15. [1913 Webster]

[The serpent] fit vessel, fittest imp of fraud, in whom To enter. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

4. (Anat.) Any tube or canal in which the blood or other fluids are contained, secreted, or circulated, as the arteries, veins, lymphatics, etc. [1913 Webster]

5. (Bot.) A continuous tube formed from superposed large cylindrical or prismatic cells (trache[ae]), which have lost their intervening partitions, and are usually marked with dots, pits, rings, or spirals by internal deposition of secondary membranes; a duct. [1913 Webster]

{Acoustic vessels}. See under {Acoustic}.

{Weaker vessel}, a woman; -- now applied humorously. ``Giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel.'' --1 Peter iii. 7. ``You are the weaker vessel.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]