ashcan

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ashcan

Where it comes from

From ash + can.

noun ashcans

A container for collecting ashes, especially from wood and coal fires, for eventual disposal elsewhere.
Similar: ashbin
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.
Similar: ashbin
US, idiomatic, slang A kind of large firecracker.
slang A depth charge.

verb ashcans · ashcanning · ashcanned

informal, transitive To throw out like rubbish; to ditch or trash.

adjective

not comparable Of or pertaining to the Ashcan School of American art.
not comparable 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.

Translations

Every language

noun container for ashes

Português	cinzeiro
Français	cendrier, poubelle
Ελληνικά	σκουπιδοτενεκές skoupidotenekés

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MLA

"ashcan." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/ashcan. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

ashcan. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/ashcan

Chicago

"ashcan." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/ashcan.

BibTeX

@misc{ashcan_2026,
  title = {ashcan},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/ashcan},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}