POTTER

A maker of earthenware, Ge 24:14-15; Jud 7:16,19; Ps 2:9. Ancient Egyptian paintings represent the potter turning and shaping, on his small and simple wheel made to revolve rapidly by the foot, the lump of clay, which he had previously kneaded with his feet. A pan of water stands by his side, with which he kept the clay moist. After the body of the vessel was worked into shape and beauty, the handle was affixed to it, devices traced upon it, and after drying a little, it was carefully taken to the oven and baked. The potter’s control over the clay illustrates the sovereignty of God, who made us of clay, and forms and disposes of us as he deems good: "O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in my hand, saith the Lord," Jer 18:1-6. "Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor and another unto dishonor?" Ro 9:20-21.

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potter. Potter, n. man who makes earthen vessels

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Pot″ter (?), n. [[Cf. F. potier.]] 1. 1. One whose occupation is to make earthen vessels. Ps. ii. 9.
The potter heard, and stopped his wheel. Longfellow. 2. 2. One who hawks crockery or earthenware. De Quincey.
3. 3. One who pots meats or other eatables.
4. 4. (Zoöl.) The red-bellied terrapin. See Terrapin.
Potter's asthma (Med.), emphysema of the lungs; — so called because very prevalent among potters. Parkers. — Potter's clay. See under Clay. — Potter's field, a public burial place, especially in a city, for paupers, unknown persons, and criminals; — so named from the field south of Jerusalem, mentioned in Matt. xxvii. 7. — Potter's ore. See Alquifou. — Potter's wheel, a horizontal revolving disk on which the clay is molded into form with the hands or tools. “My thoughts are whirled like a potter's wheel.” Shak. — Potter wasp (Zoöl.), a small solitary wasp (Eumenes fraternal) which constructs a globular nest of mud and sand in which it deposits insect larvæ, such as cankerworms, as food for its young.