US GALLON Meaning and
Definition
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The U.S. gallon, also known as the United States gallon, is a unit of volume measurement commonly used in the United States. It is part of the U.S. customary system of measurements and is defined as exactly 231 cubic inches or approximately 3.785 liters.
The U.S. gallon is derived from the earlier English wine gallon, which was established in 1707 as the volume of 10 pounds of wine at a specific temperature. The U.S. gallon, however, was redefined in 1824 with a different formula, based on the volume of 10 pounds of distilled water at a specific temperature. This revised definition aimed to create a more precise measurement.
The use of the U.S. gallon is widespread in the United States for various purposes, particularly in measuring liquids such as gasoline, milk, and other fluids. It is commonly seen on product labels, gas station pumps, and in everyday conversations regarding quantities.
It should be noted that the U.S. gallon differs from the imperial gallon used in some other countries, such as the United Kingdom. The imperial gallon is slightly larger, containing approximately 20% more volume than the U.S. gallon. Thus, it is crucial to be aware of the context to accurately interpret references to gallons in different contexts and regions.
Etymology of US GALLON
The term "gallon" comes from the Old English word "gālun", which was derived from the Late Latin word "gal(l)onem". This Latin term referred to a liquid measure equivalent to four quarts or eight pints, commonly used in England before the adoption of the metric system. The "us" in "US gallon" simply denotes the gallon measurement used in the United States.
