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fir·kin

(fûrkĭn)

1. A small wooden barrel or covered vessel.

2. Any of several British units of capacity, usually equal to about ¹/₄ of a barrel or 9 gallons (34 liters).

[Middle English ferken, ferdekin, probably from Middle Dutch *verdelkijn, diminutive of veerdel, one-fourth : veerde, fourth; see k^wetwer- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots + deel, part; see dail- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

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firkin

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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