keg

[keg]

noun

1. a small cask or barrel, usually holding from 5 to 10 gallons (19 to 38 liters).

2. a unit of weight, equal to 100 pounds (45 kilograms), used for nails.

3. Also kegger. a keg party; beer bust.

keg

/ kɛɡ /

noun

1. a small barrel with a capacity of between five and ten gallons

2. 1. an aluminium container in which beer is transported and stored

   2. Also called: keg beer. beer kept in a keg: it is infused with gas and served under pressure

Word History and Origins

Origin of keg¹

1585–95; earlier cag < Old Norse kaggi

Word History and Origins

Origin of keg¹

C17: variant of Middle English kag, of Scandinavian origin; related to Old Norse kaggi cask

Idioms and Phrases

see sitting on a powder keg.

Example Sentences

A council leader has called for control over protests outside a hotel used to house asylum seekers, describing it as a "powder keg" situation.

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"The police lines came under attack from heavy masonry, fireworks, petrol bombs and beer kegs," he added.

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The press and the then-burgeoning powder keg of social media ran with it.

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Initially, Gardner had a small collection of mostly bourbon, plus the keg.

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Her rendition of Morrissey’s “Dear God, Please Help Me” hits its climax when Faithfull bellows at full volume, “There are explosive kegs / Between my legs / Dear God, please help me.”

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Related Words

• cask