Alid orcover is part of acontainer, and serves as theclosure orseal, usually one that completely closes the object. Lids can be placed on small containers such astubs as well as larger lids for open-headpails anddrums.
TheOld English termhlid is derived from theProto-Germanic term*hlidan, meaning literally "that which bends over".[1]
According to theOxford English Dictionary, the earliest attested use of the word in English is byÆlfric of Eynsham in hisHomilies (c. 1000).[2] Other meanings of the term, now mostly obsolete orslang, includeshutters, the toppie crust, thekneecap, a hat or cap (from which the phrase "flipped his lid" is derived, or the act of concealment or silencing (as in "keeping the lid on the secret").[2] It is also used metaphorically in the saying "there's a lid for every pot", meaning that for each person there exists an ideal partner.[3]
Ancient vessels with lids have been discovered dating to as early as 4000–3500 BC,[4] and a lid alone dating to 6500–4000 BC has been recovered.[5] A study of cooking dishes in theAegean region from the Neolithic to theIron Age noted an absence of surviving lids, although there was some evidence to suggest lids may have been used.[6] EgyptologistJulia Budka has suggested that early pots may have used lids made from organic materials that did not survive, or that early lids may have been misinterpreted as dishes.[7]
Ancient Egyptiancanopic jars with lids date as far back as 2532 BC.[8]Jar burials were also used in southeast Europe, with a lidded jar being recovered from an early Neolithic site.[9]
The use of lidded vessels forfermentation had emerged by 1000 BC, with sealed beverage vessels being recovered from ancient Chinese archaeological sites.[10] Italian cooking pans with lids dating to 100 BC have been recovered atTel Anafa in Israel, suggesting the trade of such items.[11]
Tankards with hinged lids were a common design in northern Europe by the 1700s.[12]
Beginning in the 1840s, printing technology was used to embellish the lids of commercial products.[13] F&R Pratt inStaffordshire became a major producer of colour-transferred pot lids, of which over 550 designs are attested; some were on display at theGreat Exhibition of 1851.[13][14] Specialist auctions of pot lids began in 1924 and peaked in the 1970s, although they continue to be of interest to collectors.[13]
The use of glass or tin lids sealed to jars with wax emerged in Europe by 1814 and was popularized by the 1840s for people engaged in homecanning.[15] The screw-onMason jar lid was patented in 1858 and was considered superior to previous fruit jar closure techniques, particularly after the addition of a lid liner in 1869 to prevent the metal lid from impacting the taste of the product.[15] That lid was largely replaced by a tin band design as a result of metal shortages duringWorld War II, although variations on this design existed from the 1860s.[15] Lids with alightning toggle were also used for fruit jars from 1882; alternative designs from the 1860s used athumbscrew orlever closure.[15] A version using a spring clip became popular during the early 20th century, but was overtaken by the screw band design in the 1930s.[15] A revival in interest in home canning during theCOVID-19 pandemic led to a shortage of Mason jar lids.[16]
The precursor to the lidsafety button, a mechanism to ensure a jar is sealed, was patented in 1936.[17] Whenbaby food began to be sold in glass jars in the 1960s, consumer concerns led to the safety button design being incorporated into marketing of these products.[17] The Continental White Cap company, which specialized in lid design and production, pursued a lid-testing process in the 1990s and filed multiple patents for tamper-evident closures following theHeinz extortion campaign, resulting in the modern safety button design.[17]In 1945,Earl Tupper patented a design for a watertight and airtight lid made of plastic. This design became the basis forTupperware.[18]
There was a significant increase in patents filed for "drink-through hot beverage lids" in the 1980s.[19] The increased popularity oflattes and similar drinks in the 2000s resulted in the development of elevated lids to accommodatemicrofoam.[19] As of 2009[update] the coffee lid market is valued at roughly $180 million. An estimated 14 billion lids were sold in 2009 in the United States.[20]
Lids can be made of varying materials, and may or may not match the material of their associated container; for example, some modern glass reusable food containers are sold with plastic lids.[21] Some lids have latches and/or rubber gaskets to improve the security of their fit.[21] Others haveanti-tampering mechanisms to hold the lid on securely until opening.[22] Lids which have become unsealed or left uncovered may present afood safety risk.[23][24]
Lids can be designed to sit flat against the rim of the associated vessel, to seal the rim, or to cover the rim from the outside. They may have handles to facilitate removal, particularly if intended for use with cooking vessels.[25] Lids can be attached or detached; attached lids have been promoted as a means of addressingplastic pollution.[26]
Some containers have aplastic film heat-sealed onto the container, often called alidding film. These are often used in food production to improve longevity of the product and maintain food safety.[27]
Certain lid designs presentaccessibility concerns, as older people or those with certain disabilities may lack the strength or dexterity to open tight lids or peel lidding films.[28][29]
The lids of reliquary or burial jars (after 2000 BC) are typically designed as figurines with cultural or religious significance. For example, later Egyptian canopic jars use lids in the form of the four children ofHorus,[30] while theFang people attached figurines symbolizing their ancestors to containers preserving their bones.[31] Lids could also be decorated; for example, some types of ritual Chinese wine vessels used lids decorated with historic scenes,[32] while Romansarcophagi may use lids imitating temple roofs or displaying a portrait of the deceased.[33] TheSutton Hoo purse-lid is "one of the most remarkable creations of the early modern period".[34]
The lid plays a significant role in theGreek myth ofPandora's box, actually a large jar which, upon removal of the lid, released all the evils of the world, leaving only hope behind. According toWillem Jacob Verdenius in his commentary on the work ofHesiod (who recorded the myth in hisc. 700 BC poemWorks and Days), "the suggestion that the fact that ἐλπίς is caught by the lid symbolizes the fact that hope always desires to be realized but never is".[35]
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