1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Pitcher

PITCHER. (1) A large vessel for holding liquids, derived through Fr. from Med. Lat. picarium; the Lat. variant bicarium, Gr. βῖκος, has given the Ger. Becher, Eng. beaker (q.v.). (2) One who “pitches,” i.e. throws, casts, fixes; the name of the player in the game of base-ball who pitches or delivers the ball to the striker.