the system of units of capacity ordinarily used in measuring liquid commodities, as milk or oil. English system: 4 gills = 1 pint; 2 pints = 1 quart; 4 quarts = 1 gallon. Metric system: 1000 milliliters = 1 liter; 1000 liters = 1 kiloliter (= 1 cubic meter).
[ 1850-55 ]