Definition of GALLON

gallon

Meanings

Plural: gallons

Noun

  • United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters
  • a British imperial capacity measure (liquid or dry) equal to 4 quarts or 4.545 liters
  • A unit of volume, equivalent to eight pints
  • exactly 4.54609 liters; an imperial gallon
  • 231 cubic inches or approximately 3.785 liters for liquids (a "U.S. liquid gallon")
  • one-eighth of a U.S. bushel or approximately 4.405 liters for dry goods (a "U.S. dry gallon").
  • A large quantity (of any liquid).

Origin / 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 [Term?], 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”).

Synonyms

congius, gal, Imperial gallon

Scrabble Score: 7

gallon is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
gallon is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
gallon is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 11

gallon is a valid Words With Friends word