gallon

noun

gal·​lon ˈga-lən 

: a unit of liquid capacity equal to 231 cubic inches or four quarts see Weights and Measures Table

Examples of gallon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The report notes that such spills resulted in about 38 million gallons of sewage flowing into the ocean and coastal waterways. —Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 17 July 2024

For each 100 points, both Boost and Kroger Plus customers can save 10 cents per gallon of fuel, up to $1 per gallon. —John Tufts, The Courier-Journal, 16 July 2024

On Tuesday there were five fire crews attacking the blaze, along with multiple helicopters, engines and water-scooping aircraft, which have dropped more than 370,000 gallons of water on the fire in recent days. —Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 16 July 2024

With the inclusion of the federal gas tax of 18.4 cents per gallon, the total tax burden on gasoline in California rises to 88.2 cents per gallon. —Kristian Fors, Orange County Register, 15 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English galun, galoun, galon, a liquid measure, borrowed from Anglo-French galun, galon, jalon, from Old French jal-, base of jaloie "container for liquids, bucket" (going back to Vulgar Latin *gallēta, of uncertain origin) + -on, diminutive or particularizing suffix, going back to Latin -ō, -ōn-, suffix of persons with a prominent feature

Note: Presumed *gallēta (attested as Medieval Latin galeta "wine vessel, liquid measure" in 11th-century texts) has been linked to several classical Greek words for containers, as kálathos "kind of basket, wine cooler," kēlástra "milk pail" (so glossed by Hesychius), though none of these fit formally; on the other hand, kēlḗtēs, kalḗtēs "sufferer from a hernia" (from kḗlē, kálē "tumor, hernia"; see -cele) fits formally but requires a contextual and semantic leap ("one swollen or ruptured" > "container"?).

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing gallon

• ten-gallon hat

Kids Definition

gallon

noun

gal·​lon ˈgal-ən 

: a unit of liquid capacity equal to 231 cubic inches or four quarts see measure

Medical Definition

gallon

noun

gal·​lon ˈgal-ən 

1

: a United States unit of liquid capacity equal to four quarts or 231 cubic inches or 3.785 liters

2

: a British unit of liquid and dry capacity equal to four quarts or 277.42 cubic inches or 4.544 liters

called also imperial gallon