The 'gill' (
pronounced ), homophone of "
Jill", 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.
| 1 imperial gill | = 5 imperial fl. oz. = 142.0653125 ml (exactly) ≈ 142 ml ≈ 1.2 U.S. gills |
| 1 U.S. gill | = 4 U.S. fl. oz. = 118.29411825 ml (exactly) ≈ 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Scotland; though this has now been replaced by either 25 ml or 35 ml measures (Landlords can choose which one to serve). There is a pub in Edinburgh called the ''The Quarter Gill'', which famously insists on serving whisky by the 1/4 gill (35.5 ml). In southern England it is also called a noggin, but in northern England the large noggin is used, which is two gills.
In
Ireland (
North and
South), 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 35.5ml.
This old measurement is kept alive by the occasional reference, such as in the
cumulative song "
The Barley Mow".
Gallery

Copper Gill measuring jugs