___ can, item first made and patented in Britain in 1810

TIN

Think of the lightweight metal often used to preserve food in small, sealed containers.

This clue is looking for a three-letter word that completes the phrase "___ can," referring to a container. The answer is "TIN," which fits because tin cans were invented and patented in Britain in 1810 by Peter Durand as a way to preserve food. The blank hints at a short, common word, and "tin" is the material these early cans were made from. The year in the clue confirms the historical connection.