hogshead

[ hawgz-hed, hogz- ]

noun

1. a large cask, especially one containing from 63 to 140 gallons (238 to 530 liters).
2. any of various units of liquid measure, especially one equivalent to 63 gallons (238 liters). : hhd

hogshead

/ ˈhɒɡzˌhɛd /

noun

1. a unit of capacity, used esp for alcoholic beverages. It has several values, being 54 imperial gallons in the case of beer and 52.5 imperial gallons in the case of wine
2. a large cask used for shipment of wines and spirits

Word History and Origins

Origin of hogshead¹

1350–1400; Middle English hoggeshed, literally, hog's head; unexplained

Word History and Origins

Origin of hogshead¹

C14: of obscure origin

Example Sentences

My car gets 40 rods to the hogshead, and that's the way I likes it!

From Salon

“There’s records of men getting stuck, bailing out, losing hogshead of tobacco. I mean it was not an easy journey.”

From Washington Post

In one year, the aforementioned four counties produced more than 11,000 hogsheads of sugar.

From The Guardian

On the 12th of October 80 hogsheads of herrings were taken at one haul, and 30 hogsheads two tides before.

From Scientific American

Arriving at a bend in the embankment, we entered into the first warehouse there, a storehouse for some chandlery, and began setting it to flames, touching our brands to cordage and hogsheads.

From Literature