Gallon

//ˈɡælən// name, noun, slang

Definitions

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A surname.
Noun
  1. 1
    A unit of volume, equivalent to eight pints
  2. 2
    United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters wordnet
  3. 3
    exactly 4.54609 liters; an imperial gallon British, Canada
  4. 4
    a British imperial capacity measure (liquid or dry) equal to 4 quarts or 4.545 liters wordnet
  5. 5
    231 cubic inches or approximately 3.785 liters for liquids (a "U.S. liquid gallon") US
Show 2 more definitions
  1. 6
    one-eighth of a U.S. bushel or approximately 4.405 liters for dry goods (a "U.S. dry gallon"). US
  2. 7
    A large quantity (of any liquid). in-plural, informal

    "The pipe burst and gallons of water flooded into the kitchen."

Etymology

Etymology 1

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”).

Etymology 2

* As an English and French surname, from the personal name Galun, pet form of Galo, a French form of the old Germanic name Walo; see Wale. * Also as an English surname, variant of Gallion.

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