gallon

Meaning

1. A unit of volume, equivalent to eight pints
2. exactly 4.54609 liters; an imperial gallon
3. 231 cubic inches or approximately 3.785 liters for liquids (a "U.S. liquid gallon")
4. one-eighth of a U.S. bushel or approximately 4.405 liters for dry goods (a "U.S. dry gallon").
5. (informal) A large quantity (of any liquid).

Synonyms

gal

mile

congius

Imperial gallon

quart

4.54609 litres

pint

cup

hour

chevron

Hyphenated as

gal‧lon

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈɡælən/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: gallon

Cognate with Old French: jalon

Cognate with Ancient Greek: κύλιξ

Cognate with Sanskrit: कलश

Cognate with Old French: gille

Cognate with Old French: jale

Cognate with Old French: jaloie

In summary

From Middle English gallon, galoun, galun, from Old Northern French galun, galon (“liquid measure”) (compare Old French jalon), from Late Latin galum, galus (“measure of wine”), from Vulgar Latin *galla (“vessel”), possibly from Gaulish [Term?], ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kel- (“goblet”). Cognate with Ancient Greek κύλιξ (kúlix, “cup”), Sanskrit कलश (kalaśa, “jar, pitcher; measure of liquid”). Related to Old French gille (“wine measure”) (from Medieval Latin gillō (“earthenware jar”)), Old French jale (“bowl”), Old French jaloie (“measure of capacity”).