firkin

[ fur-kin ]

/ ˈfɜr kɪn /

a British unit of capacity usually equal to a quarter of a barrel.

a small wooden vessel or tub for butter, lard, etc.

Origin of firkin

1400–50; late Middle English ferdkyn, firdekyn, equivalent to ferde (variant of ferthe fourth) + -kin -kin

There is an iron pot and a tea-kettle and a frying-pan and a barrel of flour and a firkin of Graham meal; what more do we want?

Nelly's Silver Mine |Helen Hunt Jackson
Firkin hoops, or hickory withs, about as large as the ramrod of a rifle, will answer the purpose very well.

Croquet |Anonymous
Mr. Firkin, as usual, was rigorously gentlemanly, in the quiet way.

The Potiphar Papers |George William Curtis
They had a firkin of ale in a corner, with which to moisten their inner clay between each round.

In the Roar of the Sea |Sabine Baring-Gould

Down he came, partly in the firkin and partly outside of it, falling in a very mixed condition.

Fighting the Sea |Edward A. Rand

firkin

/ (ˈfɜːkɪn) /

a small wooden barrel or similar container

British a unit of capacity equal to nine gallons

C14 fir, from Middle Dutch vierde fourth + -kin