gallon

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an imperial capacity measure equal to 4 quarts or 4.545 liters

   I needed five gallons of water to fill the pond.

2. 2
   noun

   A large quantity (of any liquid).

   The pipe burst and gallons of water flooded into the kitchen.

3. 3
   noun

   United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

4. 4
   noun

   A unit of volume, equivalent to eight pints

5. 5
   noun

   exactly 4.54609 liters; an imperial gallon

6. 6
   noun

   231 cubic inches or approximately 3.785 liters for liquids (a "U.S. liquid gallon")

7. 7
   noun

   one-eighth of a U.S. bushel or approximately 4.405 liters for dry goods (a "U.S. dry gallon").

8. 8
   name

   A surname.

Etymology

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”).