Emily Dickinson Lexicon

GAL'LON, n. [Sp. galon; Law L. galona. In French, galon is a grocer's box. Old Fr. jalon, a gallon.]

A measure of capacity for dry or liquid things, but usually for liquids, containing four quarts. But the gallon is not in all cases of uniform contents or dimensions. The gallon of wine contains 231 cubic inches, or eight pounds avoirdupois of pure water. The gallon of beer and ale contains 281 cubic inches, or ten pounds three ounces and a quarter avoirdupois of water; and the gallon of corn, meal, &c., 272 1-4 cubic inches, or nine pounds thirteen ounces of pure water. – Encyc.