gallon Hear it!

gallon definition

gal·lon (gal′ən)

noun

  1. : abbrev. gal
    1. a unit of liquid measure, equal to 4 liquid quarts (3.7854 liquid liters): the British and Canadian imperial gallon equals 4.54596 liquid liters
    2. a unit of dry measure, equal to peck or 4 dry quarts (4.4048 dry liters or 0.1556 cubic foot)
  2. any container with a capacity of one gallon

Etymology: ME galoun < NormFr galon < OFr jalon < VL *gallone < stem of LL galleta, a jug

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.