hogshead Syllabification: (hogs·head)Pronunciation: /ˈhôgzˌhed, ˈhägz-/ (abbreviation: hhd)Definition of hogshead noun a large cask. a measure of capacity for wine, equal to 63 gallons (238.7 liters). a measure of capacity for beer, equal to 64 gallons (245.5 liters). Origin: Middle English: from hog + head; the reason for the term is unknownhogshead in other Oxford dictionaries Definition of hogshead in the British & World English dictionary