hogshead

UK: /ˈhɒɡzˌhɛd/ US: (hôgz′hed′, hogz′-)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

hogs•head  (hôgz′hed′, hogz′-), n. 

1. Weights and Measures a large cask, esp. one containing from 63 to 140 gallons (238 to 530 liters).
2. Weights and Measures any of various units of liquid measure, esp. one equivalent to 63 gallons (238 liters). Abbr.: hhd

• 1350–1400; Middle English hoggeshed, literally, hog's head; unexplained

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

hogshead / ˈhɒɡzˌhɛd/ noun

1. a unit of capacity, used esp for alcoholic beverages. It has several values, being 54 imperial gallons in the case of beer and 52.5 imperial gallons in the case of wine
2. a large cask used for shipment of wines and spirits

Etymology: 14th Century: of obscure origin