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Glite Dictionary
📏 A liquid measure 🛢️ A small barrel
firkin

firkin

9.9
A British measure for liquids like beer equal to about 41 litres
  • noun
  • /ˈfɜː.kɪn/
  • Archaic
translation icon : firkin
  • At the festival, they served ale from traditional firkins, which are perfect for outdoor events.

Examples

  • The brewery produces beer in large firkins, each holding 9 imperial gallons.

  • According to many, he produced approximately one hundred gallons of wine (six pots holding two or three firkins, thought to be about 7-1/2 gallons per firkin).

    Blog text (23)

  • According to many, he produced approximately one hundred gallons of wine (six pots holding two or three firkins, thought to be about 7-1/2 gallons per firkin).

    Blog text (23)

  • The farmer filled several firkins with cider to distribute at the local market.

Surface Forms

firkin singular
firkins plural

Etymology

Firkin comes from an old Dutch word meaning 'fourth of a barrel' and is related to four, because it began as a quarter of a full cask. So a firkin later became a small unit for liquids, about 9 imperial gallons or about 41 litres.