hogshead
UK /ˈhɒɡzˌhɛd/ · US /ˈhɑɡzˌhɛd/ noun
Forms hogsheads
- noun (UK) A cask of a certain size; its volume used as a measure of capacity for liquids, containing 63 wine gallons, or about 52+¹⁄₂ imperial gallons (a half pipe).
- noun A large barrel or cask of indefinite contents, especially one containing from 100 to 140 gallons.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Late Middle English hogshead, hagyshed, hogeyshed, hoggesyde, hokkeshed, Middle English hoggeshed, hogges-hed, hogeshed, hoggeshede, hoggesheed, hoggesheudes, hoggesheved, hoggishede, hoggisheed, hoggyssehed, hogyshed, hoogeshed (“measure of liquid capacity equivalent to about 63 gallons; large barrel or cask”, literally “hog’s head”), from hog, hogge (“swine, especially a castrated male swine”) + hed (“animal or human head”), equivalent to hog + -s- + head. The connection between the cask and the head of a hog is uncertain, but may refer to the shape of the cask. The word has often been borrowed into other languages as “ox-head”.
Webster’s 1913
- noun An English measure of capacity, containing 63 wine gallons, or about 52
- noun A large cask or barrel, of indefinite contents; esp. one containing from 100 to 140 gallons. [U. S.]
Etymology [D. okshoofd; akin to Sw. oxhufvud, Dan. oxehoved, G. oxhoft; apparently meaning orig., ox head, but it is not known why this name was given. Cf. Ox, Head.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “hogshead”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details