hogshead

Meaning

1. (British) A cask of a certain size; its volume used as a measure of capacity for liquids, containing 63 wine gallons, or about 52+¹⁄₂ imperial gallons (a half pipe).
2. A large barrel or cask of indefinite contents, especially one containing from 100 to 140 gallons.

Synonyms

barrel

liquid measure

Translations

okshoofd

meia pipa

barilotto

oxhoofd

oxhoft

barrique

tonel

hogshead

pipa

bocoy

bocoi

büyük fıçı

hogshead

βαρέλι μπύρας

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈhɒɡzˌhɛd/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: hogshead

Inherited from Middle English: hoggeshed

In summary

From Late Middle English hogshead, hagyshed, hogeyshed, hoggesyde, hokkeshed, Middle English hoggeshed, hogges-hed, hogeshed, hoggeshede, hoggesheed, hoggesheudes, hoggesheved, hoggishede, hoggisheed, hoggyssehed, hogyshed, hoogeshed (“measure of liquid capacity equivalent to about 63 gallons; large barrel or cask”, literally “hog’s head”), from hog, hogge (“swine, especially a castrated male swine”) + hed (“animal or human head”), equivalent to hog + 's + head. The connection between the cask and the head of a hog is uncertain, but may refer to the shape of the cask. The word has often been borrowed into other languages as “ox-head”.