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firkin

 - 4 dictionary results

fir⋅kin

  [fur-kin]
Use firkin in a Sentence
–noun
1. a British unit of capacity usually equal to a quarter of a barrel.
2. a small wooden vessel or tub for butter, lard, etc.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME ferdkyn, firdekyn, equiv. to ferde (var. of ferthe fourth ) + -kin -kin
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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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.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

firkin 
"fourth part of a barrel," 1391, from M.Du. *vierdekijn, dim. of vierde, lit. "fourth, fourth part" (see fourth).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Bible Dictionary

Firkin

Used only in John 2:6; the Attic amphora, equivalent to the Hebrew bath (q.v.), a measure for liquids containing about 8 7/8 gallons.

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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