gallon

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A unit for measuring liquid, equal to about 3.8 litres in the US and 4.5 litres in the UK.

   I needed five gallons of water to fill the pond.

2. 2
   noun

   A large amount of any liquid.

   The pipe burst and gallons of water flooded the kitchen.

Common collocations

• imperial gallon Adjective + noun

From Middle English gallon, galoun, galun, from Old Northern French galun, galon (“liquid measure”) (compare Old French jalon), from Late Latin galum, galus (“measure of wine”), from Vulgar Latin *galla (“vessel”), possibly from Gaulish *galla, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kel- (“goblet”). Cognate with Ancient Greek κύλιξ (kúlix, “cup”), Sanskrit कलश (kalaśa, “jar, pitcher; measure of liquid”). Related to Old French gille (“wine measure”) (from Medieval Latin gillō (“earthenware jar”)), Old French jale (“bowl”), Old French jaloie (“measure of capacity”).

Topics

External links

• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary
• Google Images