hogshead

American  

[hawgz-hed, hogz-] / ˈhɔgzˌhɛd, ˈhɒgz- /

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

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hogshead British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of hogshead

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

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

Every two hogsheads will yield one barrel of fish oil worth in the market $22.50 per barrel, the oil being used in currying leather and for mixing with other fish and lubricating oils.

From Scientific American

Wine flowed from hogsheads like water from a fountain, and at each meal fish, fowl, and a joint of beef were served.

From Literature