hogshead
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hogshead
- /ˈhɒɡzˌhɛd/ UK
- /ˈhɑɡzˌhɛd/ US
- /ˈhɔɡz-/ US
Where it comes from
From Late Middle English hogshead, hagyshed, hogeyshed, hoggesyde, hokkeshed, Middle English hoggeshed, hogges-hed, hogeshed, hoggeshede, hoggesheed, hoggesheudes, hoggesheved, hoggishede, hoggisheed, hoggyssehed, hogyshed, hoogeshed (“measure of liquid capacity equivalent to about 63 gallons; large barrel or cask”, literally “hog’s head”), from hog, hogge (“swine, especially a castrated male swine”) + hed (“animal or human head”), equivalent to hog + -s- + head. The connection between the cask and the head of a hog is uncertain, but may refer to the shape of the cask. The word has often been borrowed into other languages as “ox-head”.
noun hogsheads
-
A cask of a certain size; its volume used as a measure of capacity for liquids, containing 63 wine gallons, or about 52+¹⁄₂ imperial gallons (a half pipe).
[...] their vessels for use are made some of clay, of which sort some are so great as that they will containe more then one hogshead of water.
Similar: hhd.
- A large barrel or cask of indefinite contents, especially one containing from 100 to 140 gallons. [...] Now the Shippe boaring the Moone with her maine Maſt, and anon ſwallowed with yeſt and froth, as you'ld thruſt a Corke into a hogſhead.
Translations
Talk about this word "hogshead." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/hogshead. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. hogshead. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/hogshead "hogshead." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/hogshead.Cite this
@misc{hogshead_2026,
title = {hogshead},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/hogshead},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
