Firkin (unit) Firkin (unit) A firkin is a unit of volume or mass used in several situations. Its etymology is likely to be from the Middle English "ferdekyn", probably from the Middle Dutch diminutive of vierde ‘fourth’ (a firkin originally contained a quarter of a barrel). A firkin is an American unit of dry measure. 1 firkin = 9 US gallons = 34 litres. A firkin was a British unit for the sale of butter and cheese. 1 firkin = 56 pounds = 25 kilograms A firkin is also a British unit for the sale of beer. It is one quarter of
United States v. Forty-Three Gallons of Whiskey United States v. Forty-Three Gallons of Whiskey United States v. Forty-Three Gallons of Whiskey, 108 U.S. 491 (1883), is a United States Supreme Court case in which the Court held that Congress has the power to regulate the possession and sale of liquor in the lands of and near Native American tribes and upheld an order to seize barrels containing forty-three gallons of whiskey that were being traded on Native American land. The form of the styling of this casethe defendant being an object, rather than a legal personis because this is a jurisdiction "in rem" (power over objects) case,