jerry can

or jer·ry·can, jer·ri·can


noun

Also called blitz can. Military. a narrow, flat-sided, 5-gallon (19-liter) container for fluids, as fuel.
British. a can with a capacity of 4½ imperial gallons (5.4 U.S. gallons or 20.4 liters).

Origin of jerry can

1940–45; apparently Jerry “German”; the British supposedly manufactured the can after a German prototype

British Dictionary definitions for jerry can

jerry can

noun

a flat-sided can with a capacity of between 4.5 and 5 gallons used for storing or transporting liquids, esp motor fuel: originally a German design adopted by the British Army during World War II

Word Origin for jerry can

C20: from Jerry