A wine-cup (Genesis 40:11, 21), various forms of which are found on Assyrian and Egyptian monuments. All Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold (1 Kings 10: 21). The cups mentioned in the New Testament were made after Roman and Greek models, and were sometimes of gold (Revelation 17:4).

The art of divining by means of a cup was practiced in Egypt (Genesis 44:2-17), and in the East generally.

The "cup of salvation" (Psalm 116:13) is the cup of thanksgiving for the great salvation. The "cup of consolation" (Jeremiah 16:7) refers to the custom of friends sending viands and wine to console relatives in mourning (Proverbs 31:6). In 1 Corinthians 10:16, the "cup of blessing" is contrasted with the "cup of devils" (1 Corinthians 10:21). The sacramental cup is the "cup of blessing," because of blessing pronounced over it (Matthew 26:27; Luke 22:17). The "portion of the cup" (Psalm 11:6; 16:5) denotes one's condition of life, prosperous or adverse. A "cup" is also a type of sensual allurement (Jeremiah 51:7; Proverbs 23:31; Revelation 17:4). We read also of the "cup of astonishment," the "cup of trembling," and the "cup of God's wrath" (Psalm 75:8; Isaiah 51:17; Jeremiah 25:15; Lamentations 4:21; Ezek. 23:32; Revelation 16:19; Comp. Matthew 26:39, 42; John 18:11). The cup is also the symbol of death (Matthew 16:28; Mark 9:1; Hebrews 2:9).

Noah Webster's New International Dictionary of the English Language

1. (n.) A small vessel, used commonly to drink from; as, a tin cup, a silver cup, a wine cup; especially, in modern times, the pottery or porcelain vessel, commonly with a handle, used with a saucer in drinking tea, coffee, and the like.

2. (n.) The contents of such a vessel; a cupful.

3. (n.) Repeated potations; social or excessive indulgence in intoxicating drinks; revelry.

4. (n.) That which is to be received or endured; that which is allotted to one; a portion.

5. (n.) Anything shaped like a cup; as, the cup of an acorn, or of a flower.

6. (n.) A cupping glass or other vessel or instrument used to produce the vacuum in cupping.

7. (v. t.) To supply with cups of wine.

8. (v. t.) To apply a cupping apparatus to; to subject to the operation of cupping. See Cupping.

9. (v. t.) To make concave or in the form of a cup; as, to cup the end of a screw.