ashcan meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

ashcan

noun

Etymology From ash + can.

A container for collecting ashes, especially from wood and coal fires, for eventual disposal elsewhere.

Idiomatic A dustbin, trash can, or the like.

He chain-lit a fresh cigarette and flicked the old butt, still smouldering, into the steel ash-can beside his drawing table.1957, Sydney J. Bounds, The Robot Brains, London: Digit Books, page 32:

US, Idiomatic, Slang A kind of large firecracker.

Derived terms: ashcan of history, ashcan tree

ashcan

verb

Etymology From ash + can.

Informal To throw out like rubbish; to ditch or trash.

ashcan

adj

Etymology From ash + can.

Of or pertaining to the Ashcan School of American art.

Describing a comic book originally published solely to retain ownership of a trademark, not intended for general release; later used for promotional comic books intended for limited release to the public.

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.