teacup vs vessel

teacup

noun
  • A small cup, usually with a handle, commonly used for drinking tea; normally sits in a saucer as part of a tea set. 

  • A unit of measure; a teacupful. 

adj
  • Of an animal, smaller than average. 

vessel

noun
  • A container of liquid or other substance, such as a glass, goblet, cup, bottle, bowl, or pitcher. 

  • A craft designed for transportation through air or space. 

  • Any craft designed for transportation on water, such as a ship or boat. 

  • A tube or canal that carries fluid in an animal or plant. 

  • A person as a container of qualities or feelings. 

verb
  • To put into a vessel. 

How often have the words teacup and vessel occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )