firkin Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a British unit of capacity equal to 9 imperial gallons
  2. noun a small wooden keg

WordNet

Fir"kin noun
Etymology
From AS. feówer four (or an allied word, perh. Dutch or Danish) + -kin. See Four.
Definitions
  1. A varying measure of capacity, usually being the fourth part of a barrel; specifically, a measure equal to nine imperial gallons. Eng.
  2. A small wooden vessel or cask of indeterminate size, -- used for butter, lard, etc. U.S.

Webster 1913