King James Bible Dictionary

A vessel made of skins for holding wine (Joshua 9:4. 13; 1 Samuel 16:20; Matthew 9:17; Mark 2:22; Luke 5:37, 38), or milk (Judges 4:19), or water (Genesis 21:14, 15, 19), or strong drink (Habakkuk 2:15).

Earthenware vessels were also similarly used (Jeremiah 19:1-10; 1 Kings 14:3; Isaiah 30:14). In Job 32:19 (comp. Matthew 9:17; Luke 5:37, 38; Mark 2:22) the reference is to a wine-skin ready to burst through the fermentation of the wine. "Bottles of wine" in the Authorized Version of Hosea 7:5 is properly rendered in the Revised Version by "the heat of wine," i.e., the fever of wine, its intoxicating strength.

The clouds are figuratively called the "bottles of heaven" (Job 38:37). A bottle blackened or shrivelled by smoke is referred to in Psalms 119:83 as an image to which the psalmist likens himself.

General references
Genesis 21:14

Made of skins
Joshua 9:4; Joshua 9:13; Job 32:19; Psalms 119:83; Matthew 9:17; Mark 2:22; Luke 5:37-38

Made of clay
Isaiah 30:14; Jeremiah 19:1; Jeremiah 19:10; Jeremiah 48:12

Used as a lachrymatory
Psalms 56:8
Pitcher

The Arabs keep their water, milk and other liquids in leathern bottles. These are made of goatskins. When the animal is killed they cut off its feet and its head, and draw it in this manner out of the skin without opening its belly. The great leathern bottles are made of the skin of a he-goat, and the small ones, that serve instead of a bottle of water on the road, are made of a kid's skin. The effect of external heat upon a skin bottle is indicated in (Psalms 119:83) "a bottle in the smoke," and of expansion produced by fermentation in (Matthew 9:17) "new wine in old bottles." Vessels of metal, earthen or glassware for liquids were in use among the Greeks, Egyptians, Etruscans and Assyrians, and also no doubt among the Jews, especially in later times. Thus (Jeremiah 19:1) "a potter's earthen bottle." (Bottles were made by the ancient Egyptians of alabaster, gold, ivory and stone. They were of most exquisite workmanship and elegant forms. Tear-bottles were small urns of glass or pottery, made to contain the tears of mourners at funerals, and placed in the sepulchres at Rome and in Palestine. In some ancient tombs they are found in great numbers. (Psalms 56:8) refers to this custom.

ED.)

BOT'TLE, noun

1. A hollow vessel of glass, wood, leather or other material, with a narrow mouth, for holding and carrying liquors. The oriental nations use skins or leather for the conveyance of liquors; and of this kind are the bottles mentioned in scripture. 'Put new wine into bottles.' In Europe and America, glass is used for liquors of all kinds; and farmers use small cags or hollow vessels of wood. The small kinds of glass bottles are called vials or phials.

2. The contents of a bottle; as much as a bottle contains; but from the size of bottles used for wine, porter and cyder, a bottle is nearly a quart; as a bottle of wine or a porter.

3. A quantity of hay in a bundle; a bundle of hay.

BOT'TLE, verb transitive To put into bottles; as, to bottle wine or porter. This includes the stopping of the bottles with corks.

BOT'TLE-ALE, noun Bottled ale.

BOT'TLE-COMPANION

BOT'TLE-FLOWER, noun A plant, the cyanus, or blue bottle, a species of Centaurea.

BOT'TLED, participle passive Put into bottles; inclosed in bottles.

1. Having a protuberant belly.

BOT'TLE-FRIEND , noun A friend or companion in drinking.

BOT'TLE-SCREW, noun A screw to draw corks out of bottles.