barrel

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   any of various units of capacity

   a barrel of beer is 31 gallons and a barrel of oil is 42 gallons

2. 2
   verb

   to put in barrels

   We should barrel the beer before the end of the week.

3. 3
   noun

   A round (cylindrical) vessel, such as a cask, of greater length than breadth, and bulging in the middle, made of staves bound with hoops, and having flat ends (heads). The word is sometimes applied to a similar cylindrical container made of metal, usually called a drum.

   Near-synonym: cask

4. 4
   noun

   The quantity which constitutes a full barrel: the volume or weight this represents varies by local law and custom.

   Again, by 28 Hen. VIII, cap. 14, it is re-enacted that the tun of wine should contain 252 gallons, a butt of Malmsey 126 gallons, a pipe 126 gallons, a tercian or puncheon 84 gallons, a hogshead 63 gallons, a tierce 41 gallons, a barrel 31.5 gallons, a rundlet 18.5 gallons.

5. 5
   noun

   A solid drum, or a hollow cylinder or case

   the barrel of a windlass; the barrel of a watch, within which the spring is coiled.

6. 6
   noun

   A metallic tube, as of a gun, from which a projectile is discharged.

   You're shooting stars from the barrel of your eyes

7. 7
   noun

   A ceiling-mounted tube from which lights are suspended.

   Moreover, it adds to difficulties in adjusting/servicing lamps located over high scenery, ceilings etc., where the barrel networks cannot be lowered or reached.

8. 8
   noun

   A waste receptacle.

   Throw it into the trash barrel.

Etymology

Etymology tree Old French barilbor. Middle English barel English barrel From Middle English barel, from Anglo-Norman baril, Old French baril, bareil (“barrel”), of uncertain origin. An attempt to link baril to Old French barre (“bar, bolt”) (compare Medieval Latin barra (“bar, rod”)) via assumed Vulgar Latin *barrīculum meets the phonological requirement, but fails to connect the word semantically. The alternative connection to Frankish *baril, *beril or Gothic *𐌱𐌴𐍂𐌹𐌻𐍃 (*bērils, “container for transport”), from Proto-Germanic *barilaz, *bērilaz (“barrel, jug, container”), from Proto-Indo-Europ…