hogshead

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: hogs=head

CIDE DICTIONARY

hogshead, 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.].

•  An English measure of capacity, containing 63 wine gallons, or about 521913 Webster]

  " 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]
•  A large cask or barrel, of indefinite contents; esp. one containing from 100 to 140 gallons.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

hogshead, n.
1 a large cask.
2 a liquid or dry measure, usu. about 50 imperial gallons.

Etymology

ME f. HOG, HEAD: reason for the name unkn.