E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Hogshead,
a large cask = 1/2-pipe or butt, is a curious instance of the misuse of h. The word is from the Danish Oxe-hud (ox-hide), the larger skins in contradistinction to the smaller goat skins. An oxe-hud contained 240 Danish quarts.
