hogshead

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a large barrel or cask, especially one used for alcoholic drink or other liquids

   The merchant rolled a hogshead of cider into the warehouse.

2. 2
   noun

   a historical unit of liquid capacity whose exact size varied, often equal to 63 US wine gallons

   The old account records the shipment as twelve hogsheads of wine.

From Middle English hoggeshed, literally "hog's head," formed from hog + -s- + head. The reason a large cask received this name is uncertain, though its shape may have suggested the comparison. The cask's capacity later served as a unit that varied by commodity and place.

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