gallon

Where does the word "gallon" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin galleta, passing through Old French before entering English (1200s).

Gallon’s story begins in Medieval Latin: galleta meant “jug, bowl.” Used as a measure of wine; it may come from a Gaulish word 'galla', vessel. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as galon. Norman French form. It reached English by 1200s as gallon. The US and UK gallons differ. Today, gallon means a unit of liquid volume.

1. Stage 1 · Medieval Latin · medieval galleta "jug, bowl", used as a measure of wine; it may come from a Gaulish word 'galla', vessel.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval galon "liquid measure", Norman French form.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1200s gallon "liquid measure", the US and UK gallons differ.