Amphora - An amphora is a Greek vase usually with a long, offset neck and flaring mouth. The body of the vase can be several different shapes from an oval pear shape to an almost rounded off diamond-like shape. What differs amphoras from other vases are the two large handles on either side of the container which reach from about the middle of the body of the vase all the way to the lip of the vessel, the tops of the handles usually extending at a 90 degree angle from the lip before curving downward. The name "Amphora" is from the word "amphi" meaning on both sides and "phero" meaning to bring.
Bottle - A general name for any container whether it be made of glass, animal skin, wood, stone, etc. Bottles are usually made to store liquids but as any alchemist can attest, this is not the only use for them. Most bottles have some sort of lid or stopper which is used to close up the contents held with-in.
Carafe - A carafe is similar to an amphora except the body is almost always straight and there are no handles. Carafes have an offset neck with a flaring lip that extends from a tall straight base (the whole thing is usually a bit under a foot high and the lip is the same diameter as the base). Carafes are usually used to store wine.
Cup - A generic name for a container made of glass, animal skin, wood, stone, etc. Very much like a bottle except that cups usually have no necks, no lids, and sometimes have handles attached to them. They range in sizes from short and stout to tall and thin.
Decanter - Decanters are almost always glass or crystal and they always have glass or crystal stoppers. They are usually carved and fashioned with exquisite detail, right down to the stopper at the top. They come in many shapes and sizes, long necks and short necks.
Demitasse - A demitasse is a term for a small cup of strong black coffee without milk or cream.
Ewer - Ewers are similar to amphoras except they are almost always very tall and very slender and have only one handle which doesn't always reach the lip of the vessel and sometimes even goes past the lip on some of the fancier ones. Ewers also don't always have the flaring lip that amphoras do.
Flagon - A flagon is very similar to a pitcher except that they are covered with a top that allows liquid to be poured through. They are usually very tall and have a cylindrical or pear-shaped form with a single handle.
Flask - Flasks are generally made of metal with a corked or twisted on lid of some sort. The bodies of the flask are usually a rectangular or square shape and they are generally small and flat (picture a fish). The compact form of this container makes it ideal for that drunk on the go.
Flute - Flutes are those tall, fancy wine glasses that you always see folks sipping champagne from while they sit leisurely in the baths. Don't get these confused with wine glasses which have a large bowl shaped top. A wine glass compared to a flute would be like comparing a mandolin with a flute, maybe that's why they call it that, hehe.
Glass - A drinking vessel made of glass, a hard, brittle, translucent, and commonly transparent substance, white or colored, having a conchoidal fracture, and made by fusing together sand. Yup, glass...
Goblet - Goblets are almost always made of some sort of metal though I have run into some that are made out of wood. These are basically wine glasses not made of glass, though sometimes the bowl of the goblet is much bigger than that of a wine glass, well...almost always. These are those gold cups you always see kings drinking out of with the fancy sparkly gems all over it...yeah those.
Jar - A jar is a non-descript container, usually made of glass but also made from a variety of other materials. They usually have cylindrical bodies and almost always have lids, except when folks are drinking from them, that would make things a bit tough.
Keg - Kegs are those big barrels they store beer, ale, and cider in. People don't generally drink from these, but I guess they're perfect for those giant out there. Usually there is a small hole in the top of the barrel that is corked off but this is not what "normal" folks use to pour the contents from the keg (much less drink from it). Usually some sort of tap is inserted into the lower part of the keg and the beer is emptied into more easily managed containers from there. Kegs are generally used behind the bar in restaurants or at large parties, you won't see many of these delivered to tables...at least not at the taverns *I* eat at!
Mug - Mugs are generally made from wood or stone and can range from short and stout to tall and, well, still a bit stout. They may or may not have handles and have no lids of any kind, they are generally used for holding hot beverages or cold beer and ale.
Pint - These are simply tall glasses with a slightly wider lip than base so that the sides of the glass rise in a slight angle. They are almost always used to serve stout, some people even swear that the stout doesn't taste the same if it isn't.
Pitcher - A pitcher is a large container with a handle and a spout to make the pouring of liquids easier. These are almost always used to serve drinks, not to drink from...but, I guess, to each his own.
Pounder - I'm guessing this has to do with the size of the serving, not sure though...if anyone knows please enlighten me, I have looked everywhere.
Shot - A shot glass is the tiny drinking glass-shaped container that is used to serve small amounts of potent alcoholic beverages. The glasses are only big enough to hold a single swallow of the beverage, usually 1 to 1 1/2 ounces. Remember one swallow equals two sips!
Snifter - Snifters are very short and stout, with a short stem and a smallish base. The diameter of the bowl at it's widest point is about twice that of the base and the lip is almost equal to the size of the base (best described as a globular glass with a small top). When liquids are served in a snifter they are usually served very sparsely so that most of the bowl of the glass is left empty.
Tankard - Tankards are very much like mugs except that they are almost always tall, always have handles, and are almost always used for beer and ale. The main difference between the two is that tankards have hinged lids usually made of pewter but also made of silver, gold, iron, etc. The lid is usually fashioned so that the drinker may push down on a small lever above the handle of the tankard with their thumb which lifts the lid allowing them to drink from it.