n. [ OF. vessel, veissel, vaissel, vaissiel, F. vaisseau, fr. L. 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 (tracheae), 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 ]

v. t. To put into a vessel. [ Obs. ] Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Vesselfuls As much as a vessel will hold; enough to fill a vessel. [ 1913 Webster ]