fount

Noun

fount (plural founts)

1. (archaic, poetic) Synonym of fountain (“a natural source of water”); a spring.
   • VVhy ſhould the vvorme intrude the maiden bud? / Or hatefull Kuckcovves [cuckoos] hatch in Sparrovvs neſts? / Or Todes infect faire founts vvith venome mud? / […] / But no perfection is ſo abſolute, / That ſome impuritie doth not pollute.1594, William Shakespeare, Lucrece (First Quarto), London: […] Richard Field, for Iohn Harrison, […], →OCLC, signature G, recto
   • [T]his top-proud fellovv, / […] / From ſincere motions, by Intelligence, / And proofes as cleere as Founts in Iuly, vvhen / VVee ſee each graine of grauell; I doe knovv / To be corrupt and treaſonous.1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio)...

   Synonyms:

   font, fountain

2. (archaic, broadly) A device from which poultry may drink; a waterer.
   • A. H. Hews & Co., North Cambridge, Mass. Manufacturers of Poultry Water Founts. Capacities one quart, two quarts, three quarts, and four quarts. For sale, wholesale and retail.1872 July, “Price Lists Received”, in The Poultry World. For the Fancier, Family, and Market Poulterer, volume I, number 7, Hartford, Conn.: H. H. Stoddard, →OCLC, page 90, column 2
   • On north side an alley six feet wide whole length of building, partitioned as follows: 1st, Feed troughs and water founts; above these, at proper height, two tiers of nest boxes, one above the other— […]1882 January, “Poultry-house”, in The Poultry World: For the Fancier, Family, and Market Poulterer, volume XI, number 1, Hartford, Conn.: H. H. Stoddard, […], →OCLC, page 5, column 3
3. (figuratively) That from which something proceeds; an origin, a source.
   • He is a real fount of knowledge!
   • This was the ſad beginning of our woes / that was from hell on wretched mortalls hurld / & from this fount did all thoſe miſchiefes flow / whoſe inundation drowneth all the world.1606?, Michaell Drayton [i.e., Michael Drayton], “The Fourth Eglog”, in Poemes Lyrick and Pastorall. […], London: […] R. B[radock] for N[icholas] L[ing] and I[ohn] Flasket, →OCLC; republished in...