1. [n]  a cylindrical container that holds liquids
2. [n]  a tube through which a bullet travels when a gun is fired
3. [n]  any of various units of capacity; "a barrel of beer is 31 gallons and a barrel of oil is 42 gallons"
4. [n]  the quantity that a barrel (of any size) will hold
5. [n]  a bulging cylindrical shape; hollow with flat ends
6. [v]  put in barrels

1. \Bar"rel\ (b[a^]r"r[e^]l), n.[OE. barel, F. baril, prob.
   fr. barre bar. Cf. {Barricade}.]
   1. A round vessel or cask, of greater length than breadth,
      and bulging in the middle, made of staves bound with
      hoops, and having flat ends or heads.
   2. The quantity which constitutes a full barrel. This varies
      for different articles and also in different places for
      the same article, being regulated by custom or by law. A
      barrel of wine is 311/2 gallons; a barrel of flour is 196
      pounds.
   3. A solid drum, or a hollow cylinder or case; as, the barrel
      of a windlass; the barrel of a watch, within which the
      spring is coiled.
   4. A metallic tube, as of a gun, from which a projectile is
      discharged. --Knight.
   5. A jar. [Obs.] --1 Kings xvii. 12.
   6. (Zo["o]l.) The hollow basal part of a feather.
   {Barrel bulk} (Com.), a measure equal to five cubic feet,
      used in estimating capacity, as of a vessel for freight.
   {Barrel drain} (Arch.), a drain in the form of a cylindrical
      tube.
   {Barrel of a boiler}, the cylindrical part of a boiler,
      containing the flues.
   {Barrel of the ear} (Anat.), the tympanum, or tympanic
      cavity.
   {Barrel organ}, an instrument for producing music by the
      action of a revolving cylinder.
   {Barrel vault}. See under {Vault}.
   

2. \Bar"rel\ (b[a^]r"r[e^]l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Barreled}
   (-r[e^]ld), or {Barrelled}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Barreling}, or
   {Barrelling}.]
   To put or to pack in a barrel or barrels.
   

a vessel used for keeping flour (1 Kings 17:12, 14, 16). The same word (cad) so rendered is also translated "pitcher," a vessel for carrying water (Gen. 24:14; Judg. 7:16).