firkin

UK: /ˈfɜːkɪn/ US: (fûr′kin)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

fir•kin  (fûr′kin), n. 

1. Weights and Measures a British unit of capacity usually equal to a quarter of a barrel.
2. a small wooden vessel or tub for butter, lard, etc.

• late Middle English ferdkyn, firdekyn, equivalent. to ferde (variant of ferthe fourth) + -kin -kin 1400–50

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

firkin / ˈfɜːkɪn/ noun

1. a small wooden barrel or similar container
2. a unit of capacity equal to nine gallons

Etymology: 14th Century fir, from Middle Dutch vierde fourth + -kin