Word of the Day -- Gill

The gill  is a unit of measurement for volume equal to a quarter of a pint. It is no longer in common use, except in regard to the volume of alcoholic spirits measures, but it is kept alive by the occasional reference, such as in the cumulative song "The Barley Mow". It is also referenced in FX's animated cartoon "Archer", in both Episodes "Blood Test" (Season 2, Episode 3).  and "Heart of Archness: Part Three" (Season 3, Episode 3).  The word also appeared in a 2013 edition of the BBC TV programme QI, when it was mispronounced by show host Stephen Fry as gill (i.e. as in gill of a fish) Imperial gill
1 imperial gill ≡ 5 imperial fluid ounces

≡ 142.0653125 ml
≈ 142 ml

≈ 1.2 US gills
United States customary gill
1 US gill ≡ 4 US fl oz

≡ 1⁄32 US gallon

≡ 1⁄4 US pint

≡ 1⁄2 US cup

≡ 8 tablespoons

≡ 24 teaspoons

≡ 32 US fluid drams

≡ 77⁄32 in3

≡ 118.29411825 ml
≈ 118 ml

≈ 5⁄6 imperial gills


In Great Britain, the standard single measure of spirits in a pub was 1⁄6 gill (23.7 ml) in England, and 1⁄5 gill (28.4 ml) in Scotland; after metrication this was replaced by either 25 or 35 ml (0.176- or 0.246-gill) measures (landlords can choose which one to serve). The 1⁄4 gill was previously the most common measure in Scotland, and still remains as the standard measure in pubs in Ireland. In southern England, it is also called a noggin. In northern England, however, the large noggin is used, which is two gills. In some areas, a gill came to mean half a pint for both beer and milk.

In Ireland, the standard spirit measure was historically 1⁄4 gill. In the Republic of Ireland, it still retains this value, though it is now legally specified in metric units as 35.5 ml.

A convenient method to remember the conversion from gill to litres is that 1 imperial gill = π - 3 litres, accurate to 3 d.p.