A canteen is a vessel that allows the transfer of water.
Cantimplora is a notion whose etymological roots are found in the Catalan language. The term, according to the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ), refers to a flattened metal container that is covered with an insulating material and is used to transport a drink .
Some time ago, the concept was also used to refer to a type of jug that was used to cool water and to a siphon . In Salamanca , in addition, a canteen is a wineskin or a large pot .
History of the canteen
According to Joan Coromines , author of the “Brief etymological dictionary of the Castilian language” , cantimplora derives from the Catalan expression canta i plora , which can be translated as “sing and cry” . The idea of a canteen, in this way, was born from a metaphor linked to the similarity between the noise of the contents of the vessel and the sound of a song or crying.
The Aquae Foundation , which is dedicated to optimizing water use, indicates that the origins of the canteen are remote. In Ancient Rome , the institution points out, clay containers were already used to transport liquid.
Another antecedent of the modern canteen mentioned by the Aquae Foundation is the so-called pilgrim gourd . These vessels were made with the dried fruit of the plant with the scientific name Lagenaria siceraria , which currently in several South American countries allows the creation of the container used to drink mate (infusion made with the leaves of yerba mate).
Although they have remote origins, canteens remain popular.
A very useful resource
Long ago, canteens were an element of enormous importance for human migrations. Today there are other methods to store and carry drinking water, but canteens are still very useful.
In agricultural activities , on tourist tours and in the military field , for example, canteens make it possible to have fresh water available. The vessel usually has handles and ropes or ribbons so that it can be carried hanging from the waist, neck or shoulder.
Sometimes the lid of the canteen functions as a glass . However, it can be drunk directly from the spout or mouth of the container.
It should be noted that canteens are not only made of metal . There are also plastic canteens , clay canteens and many others.
Children's canteen
Among the main users of canteens are children. It is common for children to take a water bottle to school , club , summer camp or camp , thus having the possibility of hydrating themselves whenever they want.
These canteens, in addition to fulfilling their practical purpose (storing and carrying a drink), are usually decorated with children's motifs. In this way they can display drawings of animals , images of superheroes, etc.
Many times the canteen is complemented with a lunch box or container . Thus, the little ones carry water or juice in the canteen and food in the lunch box. These foods, of course, must be able to be stored properly without refrigeration.