Dictionary

firkin en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈfɜːkɪn/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈfɝkɪn/ (US)
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From Middle Dutch *vierdekijn, diminutive of vierde (“fourth”), from vier (“four”); equivalent to fourth + -kin.

Meanings

1. (UK) A varying measure of capacity, usually being a quarter of a barrel; specifically, a measure equal to nine imperial gallons.
   • 23 Hen. VIII, cap. 4... The barrel of beer is to hold 36 gallons, the kilderkin 18 gallons the firkin 9. But the barrel, kilderkin, and firkin of ale are to contain 32, 16, and 8 gallons. 1882, James Edwin Thorold Rogers, A History of Agriculture and Prices in England, volume 4, page 205:
   • Barrels came in firkins, nine gallons; kilderkins, eighteen gallons; halves, twenty-seven gallons; barrels, thirty-six gallons and hogsheads, fifty-four. 1987, Keith Dunstan, The Amber Nectar, Ringwood: Vicking O'Neil, page 81:
   • But for his other guests he let bear in the massy cups of silver, and the great eared wine jars holding two firkins apiece, and he let pour forth to the Witches and the Foliots, and they drank the cup of memory unto King Gorice XI., slain that day by the hand of Goldry Bluszco. 1922, E[ric] R[ücker] Eddison, The Worm Ouroboros: A Romance, London: Jonathan Cape […], →OCLC, page 31:
2. (US) A small wooden vessel or cask of indeterminate size, used for butter, lard, etc.
3. A measurement for the mass of butter, equalling 56 pounds.

Forms

Translations (4)

bg каче (one fourth of a barrel) · fi nelikko (one fourth of a barrel) · he חֲבִיֹנֶת (one fourth of a barrel) · he רֶבַע (one fourth of a barrel)