GALLON - Definition & Meaning for Kids
Meaning 1
Part of speech: Noun
United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters
Categories: United states liquid unit
Meaning 2
Part of speech: Noun
a British imperial capacity measure (liquid or dry) equal to 4 quarts or 4.545 liters
Categories: British capacity unit, Imperial capacity unit
Synonyms
Gal, Gallon, Congius, Imperial gallon
🌱 Word Origin (Etymology)
The word "gallon" comes from Proto-Indo-European *kel-. It started in Vulgar Latin *galla. Then it appeared in Late Latin galum. Later, people used it in Old Northern French galun. After that, it was Middle English gallon. Many other languages have similar words:.
- Old French: jalon
- Ancient Greek: κύλιξ
- Sanskrit: कलश
- Old French: gille
- Medieval Latin: gillō
- Old French: jale
- Old French: jaloie
🧩 Fun Fact
Each civilization borrowed this word because they encountered the concept through cultural contact.