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firkin

fir·kin

 (fûr′kĭn)
n.
1. A small wooden barrel or covered vessel.
2. Any of several British units of capacity, usually equal to about 1/4 of a barrel or 9 gallons (34 liters).

[Middle English ferken, ferdekin, probably from Middle Dutch *verdelkijn, diminutive of veerdel, one-fourth : veerde, fourth; see kwetwer- in Indo-European roots + deel, part; see dail- in Indo-European roots.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

firkin

(ˈfɜːkɪn)
n
1. (Brewing) a small wooden barrel or similar container
2. (Units) Brit a unit of capacity equal to nine gallons
[C14 fir, from Middle Dutch vierde fourth + -kin]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

fir•kin

(ˈfɜr kɪn)

n.
1. a small wooden vessel or tub for butter, lard, etc.
2. an early English unit of capacity usu. equal to a quarter of a barrel.
[1400–50; late Middle English ferdkyn, firdekyn=ferde (variant of ferthe fourth) + -kin -kin]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

Firkin

 a measure of quantity; half a kilderkin, 1465; as a small cask for liquids, fish, butter, etc.
Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

firkin

A unit of volume, used especially to measure beer or ale. 1 firkin = 9.8 US gal.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.firkin - a British unit of capacity equal to 9 imperial gallons
British capacity unit, Imperial capacity unit - a unit of measure for capacity officially adopted in the British Imperial System; British units are both dry and wet
congius, Imperial gallon, gallon - a British imperial capacity measure (liquid or dry) equal to 4 quarts or 4.545 liters
kilderkin - an obsolete British unit of capacity equal to 18 Imperial gallons
2.firkin - a small wooden keg
keg - small cask or barrel
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
References in classic literature ?
"I wish you could come to me in London, but I couldn't make a butt of you as I do of poor Briggs no, no, you little sly creature; you are too clever--Isn't she, Firkin?"
Firkin (who was dressing the very small remnant of hair which remained on Miss Crawley's pate), flung up her head and said, "I think Miss is very clever," with the most killing sarcastic air.
Cato says, the master of a family (patremfamilias) must have in his rustic villa "cellam oleariam, vinariam, dolia multa, uti lubeat caritatem expectare, et rei, et virtuti, et gloriae erit," that is, "an oil and wine cellar, many casks, so that it may be pleasant to expect hard times; it will be for his advantage, and virtue, and glory." I had in my cellar a firkin of potatoes, about two quarts of peas with the weevil in them, and on my shelf a little rice, a jug of molasses, and of rye and Indian meal a peck each.
"While I," quoth the other loudly, "do maintain the good sense and extraordinary wisdom of that most learned William against the crack-brained fantasies of the muddy Scotchman, who hath hid such little wit as he has under so vast a pile of words, that it is like one drop of Gascony in a firkin of ditch-water.
Shameless Paige Firkins, 19, gloated online that she "kinda took the biggest cocoon" during a trip to the attraction last week.
next few weeks please pop in if you see us -ing the shop Firkins."
Sarah Bolderston, head of retail at Firkins, said: "We are delighted to be opening our latest shop on Harborne High Street and will continue to offer the local community a great range of freshly baked products at exceptional value for money.
For this, they have set up eight stillages, each holding 15 firkins of beer, which each hold nine gallons.
Crack cocaine addict Robert Firkins, 32, and his brother Lee, 31 - wanted to be like the Kray Twins.
Details of the shootings were related by alleged murderer Robert Firkins while in jail, a fellow inmate told Exeter Crown Court.
Lee Firkins, 29, and Robert, 31, will appear before Torbay magistrates accused of killing the couple last year.
Greggs (6 for pounds 1.10): *** M&S (6 for pounds 1.09): *** Firkins (6 for 72p): * Sainsbury's (4 for 55p): * Three Cooks (6 for pounds 1.20): *** Asda (6 for 68p): ** Morrisons (4 for 62p): * Tesco (4 for 48p): **