An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Oxhoft

by Friedrich Kluge

Oxhoft, n., ‘hogshead,’ MidHG. only, from the equiv. LG. and Du. okshoofd, n., to which Swed. oxhufoud and Dan. oxehoved are allied; the origin of the word cannot be ascertained. The sounds point rather to a Scand. dial. than to LG. and Du., because in the latter os signifies ‘ox.’ It is not certain whether the prim. meaning is ‘head of an ox,’ though it was thus popularly understood in LG., as is seen by the corrupt form hogshead, which it assumed on being adopted by Eng.