Orca
(
ὄρχη and
ὕρχα). A
vessel of earthenware shaped like an
amphora (q. v.), but somewhat
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Orca. (Rich.)
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smaller, used for holding pickles, oil, wine, or figs. It was also employed by
children in playing a game of skill (
τρόπα;
Anglicé, “cherry-pit,” “pitchin-the-hole”),
in which the player tried to pitch nuts or cherry-pits into the narrow opening from a
distance. See Persius, iii. 50, with Gildersleeve's note, and Shakspeare,
Twelfth
Night, iii. 4.