firkin

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a small wooden cask used especially for butter, ale, or other provisions

   A firkin of salted butter stood in the cool corner of the cellar.

2. 2
   noun

   a historical British measure of capacity, especially one equal to a quarter of a barrel or nine imperial gallons for beer

   The old account records the sale of a firkin containing nine gallons of beer.

From Middle Dutch vierdekijn, a diminutive of vierde, 'fourth.' A firkin was characteristically a quarter of a larger barrel, though its exact capacity varied by commodity and period.

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