Barrel

Barrel is a name traditionally given to a cylindrical container bulging out in the middle, or a tube forming part of an object such as a gun or a pen. The container was traditionally made of wooden staves with metal hoops around them. However, these are now made of plastic. The container together with its contents is also called a barrel.

It is also a measure of capacity used for oil and beer, such as a barrel of cured oil, or a barrel of beer. Barrel as a unit of volume is equal to 36 imperial gallons for beer, but 35 imperial gallons or 42 US gallons for oil which is about 159 litres. One barrel weights 306 pounds or 5.80 million Btu of crude oil. Barrel is abbreviated as bbl.

The belly and loins of a four-legged animal, such as a horse, is also called barrel.