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

Explanation

A hogshead is either a large cask that holds liquid, or a unit of liquid measurement. The owner of a pub might order a few extra hogsheads of cider on a particularly busy weekend. The term hogshead is almost always used for beer, ale, or wine — although you can use it as a unit of measurement for anything that comes in a big wooden barrel. A wine hogshead is about 79 gallons, but there tends to be some variation on the exact amount. During the colonial era, traders used a tobacco hogshead for both measuring and transporting, and in the 19th century, a sugar hogshead was a common measurement in the American South.

Example Sentences

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

From Salon • Aug. 5, 2023

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

From Washington Post • Mar. 10, 2022

A hogshead cask holds up to 250 litres of spirit, while a butt contains up to 500 litres.

From BBC • Oct. 30, 2017

When the house was built in 1856, an enormous hogshead that was shipped to Topeka from New Orleans was placed inside its cellar.

From Washington Times • Sep. 18, 2015

I’d sooner drink a hogshead of the stuff.

From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly