kilderkin

[ kil-der-kin ]

noun

1. a unit of capacity, usually equal to half a barrel or two firkins.
2. an English unit of capacity, equal to 18 imperial gallons (82 liters).

kilderkin

/ ˈkɪldəkɪn /

noun

1. an obsolete unit of liquid capacity equal to 16 or 18 Imperial gallons or of dry capacity equal to 16 or 18 wine gallons
2. a cask capable of holding a kilderkin

Word History and Origins

Origin of kilderkin¹

1350–1400; Middle English, dissimilated variant of kinderkin < Middle Dutch, equivalent to kinder (≪ Arabic qinṭār quintal ) + -kin -kin

Word History and Origins

Origin of kilderkin¹

C14: from Middle Dutch kindekijn, from kintal hundredweight, from Medieval Latin quintale; see kentledge

Example Sentences

Kilderkin, kil′dėr-kin, n. a small barrel: a liquid measure of 18 gallons.

From Project Gutenberg

Ned Kilderkin spoke as a banker writes, only touching the needful.

From Project Gutenberg

We have adopted it as kilderkin, but have doubled its capacity.

From Project Gutenberg