FLASK, in its earliest meaning, a vessel, made of wood or leather, for carrying liquor. The principal applications in current usage are (I) to a vessel of metal or wood, formerly of horn, ! used for carrying gunpowder; (2) to a long-necked, round-bodied glass vessel, usually covered with plaited straw or maize leaves, containing olive or other oil or Italian wines—it is of ten known as a "Florence flask" ; (3) to similarly shaped vessels, used for experiments, etc., in a laboratory; (4) to a small metal or glass receptacle for liquor, of a size and shape to fit into a pocket or holster, usually covered with leather, basket-work or other pro tecting suj stance, and with a detachable portion of the case shaped to form a cup. "Flask" is also used in metal-founding ; it is a wooden frame or case to contain part of the mould. The word "flagon," which is by derivation a doublet of "flask," is usually applied to a larger type of vessel for holding liquor, more par ticularly to a type of wine-bottle with a short neck and circular body with flattened sides. The term is also used for a jug shaped vessel with a handle, spout and lid, into which wine may be decanted from the bottle for use at table, and of a similarly shaped vessel to contain the eucharistic wine till it is poured into the chalice. (See DRINKING VESSELS.)