Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Hogshead

Hogs′head

,
Noun.
[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 52½ imperial gallons; a half pipe.
☞ 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.
2.
A large cask or barrel, of indefinite contents; esp. one containing from 100 to 140 gallons.
[U. S.]

Webster 1828 Edition


Hogshead

HOGS'HEAD

,
Noun.
[the English orthography is grossly corrupt.]
1.
A measure of capacity, containing 63 gallons.
2.
In America,this name is often given to a butt, a cask containing from 110 to 120 gallons; as a hogshead of spirit or molasses.
3.
A large cask, of indefinite contents.

Definition 2024


hogshead

hogshead

English

Noun

hogshead (plural hogsheads)

  1. An English measure of capacity for liquids, containing 63 wine gallons, or about 52 1/2 imperial gallons; a half pipe.
    • 1882, James Edwin Thorold Rogers, A History of Agriculture and Prices in England, p.205
      Again, by 28 Hen. VIII, cap. 14, it is re-enacted that the tun of wine should contain 252 gallons, a butt of Malmsey 126 gallons, a pipe 126 gallons, a tercian or puncheon 84 gallons, a hogshead 63 gallons, a tierce 41 gallons, a barrel 31.5 gallons, a rundlet 18.5 gallons.
  2. A large cask or barrel, of indefinite contents; especially one containing from 100 to 140 gallons.
    • 1922, Ben Travers, chapter 1, in A Cuckoo in the Nest:
      “[…] the awfully hearty sort of Christmas cards that people do send to other people that they don't know at all well. You know. The kind that have mottoes like
        Here's rattling good luck and roaring good cheer, / With lashings of food and great hogsheads of beer. […]”

Translations


Portuguese

Noun

hogshead m (plural hogsheads)

  1. hogshead (an English measure of liquids)