A narrow-necked container made of an impermeable material in various shapes and sizes that stores or transports liquids. Its mouth can be sealed with an internal bottle cap, an external bottle cap, a closure, or induction sealing. The term bottle is generally used to refer to a container of the type made of glass, plastics, or metal. This page also discusses related terminology.
A Bottle Episode – an episode of a television show which is filmed on one set with only the main cast of characters and whose budgetary circumstances force it to be cheaper and/or slower to produce than a standard episode. Usually, this kind of episode is a result of a need to save money for other episodes in the same season due to factors like building new sets, adding extra cast members on partial-season contracts, or requiring significant visual effects.
Bocca – The glob (gob) of molten glass gathered on the end of the blowpipe by the glassworker in the process of making hand blown bottles and expanded to form a bottle body. This was done by pushing the gather over a flat surface called a battledore. See Battledore and the Bottle Bases & Bottom Plates page for more information on bottle bases.
Full sized mold – A full sized mold is a bottle mold that forms the entire interior surface of a particular size and shape of bottle. In other words, it is a bottle’s “shell”. An inflated gather placed inside of a full sized mold will conform to its shape and will form the sides, shoulders, and most of the neck/finish of the bottle (see the Bottle Shoulders & Heels page for more on necks).
Block – A wooden or iron form used in the process of hand blowing to give a symmetrical form to a bottle. A block was a predecessor of the marver. A bottle produced using a block could be distinguished by its smooth, rounded surfaces from a purely free-blown or cylinder bottle.
Laid-on ring – A glass bead or ring trailed around the inside of the bore of a bottle or jar and fused to it. The ring strengthened the bore and added to its beauty.
Bakelite – An early phenolic thermosetting plastic first introduced as a bottle closure material in 1927 though it was also used for thousands of other items including phonograph records, billiard balls, and telephone and radio cases. Bottles with a laid-on ring are sometimes referred to as a bakelite cap although this is more often applied to the later screw cap closure material which is a completely different technology.
Bottle Bill – A state or local law that requires beverage containers to be recycled. This type of law typically includes a fee for depositing an empty aluminum can or bottle in a recycling bin. Although some people argue that these laws cost jobs and harm businesses, a more important consideration is that our planet is finite and the natural resources such as aluminum are being rapidly consumed. Hence the need for these types of laws which promote reuse rather than wasteful disposal.
