Definition

A large barrel or cask, typically holding between 63 and 140 gallons (238–530 liters) depending on the commodity and region, traditionally used for storing liquids like wine, beer, or molasses. It was a standard unit of measurement in trade.

Example Usage

The merchant ship carried fifty hogsheads of Caribbean rum in its hold.

Origin

From Middle English and Old English 'hogges hede,' possibly referring to the size—either a barrel large enough to hold a hog's head, or humorously oversized. The exact etymology is uncertain.

Fun Fact

A hogshead was an important standardized unit in colonial commerce, and many historical contracts and shipping manifests specify goods by the hogshead.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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