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hogshead

[ hawgz-hed, hogz- ]
/ ˈhɔgzˌhɛd, ˈhɒgz- /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR hogshead ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

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Origin of hogshead

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

Words nearby hogshead

hogmolly, hognose snake, hognosed skunk, hognut, hogpen, hogshead, hogtie, hogtown, hogue, hogwash, hogweed
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to hogshead

drum, keg, cask, vessel, barrel, vat

Example sentences from the Web for hogshead

British Dictionary definitions for hogshead

hogshead
/ (ˈhɒɡzˌhɛd) /

noun

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
a large cask used for shipment of wines and spirits

Word Origin for hogshead

C14: of obscure origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012