gallon
noun/ˈɡælən/
Etymology From Middle English gallon, galoun, galun, from Old Northern French galun, galon (“liquid measure”) (compare Old French jalon), from Late Latin galum, galus (“measure of wine”), from Vulgar Latin *galla (“vessel”), possibly from Gaulish *galla, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kel- (“goblet”). Cognate with Ancient Greek κύλιξ (kúlix, “cup”), Sanskrit कलश (kalaśa, “jar, pitcher; measure of liquid”). Related to Old French gille (“wine measure”) (from Medieval Latin gillō (“earthenware jar”)), Old French jale (“bowl”), Old French jaloie (“measure of capacity”).
A unit of volume, equivalent to eight pints
US 231 cubic inches or approximately 3.785 liters for liquids (a "U.S. liquid gallon")
US one-eighth of a U.S. bushel or approximately 4.405 liters for dry goods (a "U.S. dry gallon").
In plural, Informal A large quantity (of any liquid).
- The pipe burst and gallons of water flooded into the kitchen.
- Derived terms
- 10-gallon hat, ale gallon, corn gallon, gallonage, galloner, gasoline-equivalent gallon, gasoline gallon equivalent, kilogallon, megagallon, multigallon, Roman gallon, ten-gallon hat, Winchester gallon, wine gallon