1548 T. Cooper Bibliotheca Eliotæ (rev. ed.) Ahenum, a great vatte, wherein purple is dyed.

1632 R. Sherwood Dict. in R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues (new ed.) (at cited word) A dying Vat, cuvier.

1738 E. Chambers Cycl. (ed. 2) at Dying Dying materials are generally applied in decoctions made in water..sometimes by only dipping the stuff in the vat of dye.

1788 Trans. Soc. Arts 6 165 (Papermaking) Having prepared the stuff, chest and vatt, quite clean, I chopt the clean bark or first preparation [etc.].

1791 W. Hamilton tr. C.-L. Berthollet Elements Art of Dyeing I. Introd. p. ii The Stuffs..were immersed in vats, where they received various colours.

1825 ‘J. Nicholson’ Operative Mechanic 366 The large vat or cistern [of a paper-mill], A A, is of an oblong figure on the outside.

1832 Porcelain & Glass 38 When the flints are thus sufficiently ground, the semi-fluid is transferred to another vat.

1873 P. G. Hamerton Intellect. Life xii. i. 432 Every locality is like a dyer's vat, the residents take its colour.

1507 in E. Hobhouse Church-wardens' Accts. (1890) 53 Item an oyle vatte of sylver.

1534–5 MS. Rawl. D. 77 f. 67 b The vaettes that convayeth the Rubbysch frome the great Kechyn.

1536 MS Rawl. D. 77 f. 67 b Skoryng and makyng clean the Vattes of the Comen Jakes..with other vattes with in the said castell.

1669 J. Worlidge Systema Agriculturæ (1681) 334 Vallor, or Vallow, or Vate, a concave Mould wherein a Cheese is pressed.

1860 All Year Round 14 Apr. 19 The next step taken was to get a proper ‘vat’ and ‘follower’ made of solid mahogany.

1777 in Philos. Trans. 1778 (Royal Soc.) (1779) 68 115 Until they think proper to lay it away in the Vatts. In these holes, which are the largest in the tan-yard, the leather is spread out smooth.

1876 E. H. Knight Amer. Mech. Dict. (new ed.) III. 2490/1 The tan-yard contains a number of wooden-lined vats, whose tops are level with the..ground.

1885 Harper's Mag. Jan. 276/1 The hides are placed..in vats filled with a dissolved excrement.

1778 W. Pryce Mineralogia Cornubiensis 225 Upon the top of the arch or back of the calciner, is made a square hollow place called a Vate or Dry, sufficient to contain a serving or hand barrow full of Tin.

1802 J. Mawe Mineral. of Derbyshire Gloss. Vat, a wooden tub used to wash ore and mineral substances.

1872 R. W. Raymond Statistics Mines & Mining 253 Outside of the building the pulp runs first into vats, where the heavier portion settles and the rest goes into the creek.

1888 F. Hume Madame Midas i. v. 44 The wash was carried along in the trucks from the top of the shaft to the puddlers, which were large circular vats into which water was constantly gushing.

1860 M. F. Maury Physical Geogr. Sea (ed. 8) ii. 22 There is a series of vats or pools through which the water is passed as it comes from the sea, and is reduced to the briny state.

1862 J. H. Bennet Mentone & Biarritz as Winter Climates (ed. 2) v. 97 The vats or pools [in the salt-works] into which the sea-water is received for evaporation.

1766 J. Entick Surv. London in New Hist. London IV. 328 Their business being to attend each ship, to top the vats, and to return an account of the coals measured.

1825 W. Hone Every-day Bk. (1826) I. 741 The arrival..of a vat of Hambro' yarn.

1825 W. Hone Every-day Bk. (1826) I. 741 The inhabitants met the waggon,..decorated the vat with ribands,..and drew the same through the village.

1859 F. A. Griffiths Artillerist's Man. (1862) 159 The horses are to be taken out; the harness..packed in vats.

1708 Constitutions Company Watermen & Lightermen xlii It is agreed and order'd, that all Lightermen selling Coals, shall sell Pool~measure,..That is to say, One and Twenty Chaldron to the Score, or otherwise to sell the same Measure each person buys, (provided the Parcel be Five Chaldron and a Vatt at the least).

1764 Ann. Reg. 1763 64 Importation of coals into the port of London in the year 1762, amounting to 570,774 chaldrons and one vat.

1821 Acct. Peculations Coal Trade 5 The measure used in the pool is by vat; this contains nine bushels heaped.

1730 N. Bailey et al. Dictionarium Britannicum Fat, Vat, (of Merchandise) an uncertain quantity, as of yarn, from 210 to 211 bundles; of wire, from 20 to 25 pound weight, &c.