phial
UK: ˈfaɪəl | US: ˈfaɪəl
n. a small glass bottle, typically used for holding liquids, especially medicines or perfumes.
The word "phial" traces back to the Greek phialē, meaning a broad, flat vessel or bowl. It entered Middle English via Old French fiole and Latin phiala, retaining its core meaning of a small container. The suffix -al (from Latin -alis) is a nominalizing element, solidifying its role as a noun. Over time, "phial" specialized to refer specifically to small glass bottles, often for medicinal or aromatic liquids, reflecting its practical use in apothecaries and laboratories.
The chemist carefully poured the blue liquid into a tiny phial.
Ancient perfumes were often stored in ornate phials made of blown glass.
She uncorked the phial and inhaled the scent of lavender oil.
The doctor handed me a phial of antibiotics with precise dosage instructions.
Archaeologists discovered a collection of Roman phials in the ruins of a villa.