Hogshead

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Hogshead \Hogs"head\, n. [D. okshoofd; akin to Sw. oxhufvud,
     Dan. oxehoved, G. oxhoft; apparently meaning orig., ox head,
     but it is not known why this name was given. Cf. {Ox},
     {Head}.]
     1. An English measure of capacity, containing 63 wine
        gallons, or about 521/2 imperial gallons; a half pipe.


        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The London hogshead of beer was 54 beer gallons, the
           London hogshead of ale was 48 ale gallons. Elsewhere in
           England the ale and beer hogsheads held 51 gallons.
           These measures are no longer in use, except for cider.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A large cask or barrel, of indefinite contents; esp. one
        containing from 100 to 140 gallons. [U. S.]
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  hogshead
       n 1: a British unit of capacity for alcoholic beverages
       2: a large cask especially one holding 63 gals

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  HOGSHEAD. A measure of wine, oil, and the like, containing half a pipe; the 
  fourth part of a tun, or sixty-three gallons.