firkin
NounWordNet 3.0
Noun (2)
- a British unit of capacity equal to 9 imperial gallons
- a small wooden keg
Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)
Firkin \Fir"kin\, n. [From AS. fe['o]wer four (or an allied word, perh. Dutch or Danish) + -kin. See Four.]
1.A varying measure of capacity, usually being the fourth part of a barrel; specifically, a measure equal to nine imperial gallons. [Eng.] [1913 Webster]
2.A small wooden vessel or cask of indeterminate size, -- used for butter, lard, etc. [U.S.] [1913 Webster]