A large beer or wine cask, also formerly used to describe the capacity of ships.
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Fact of the Day
The first people to use umbrellas in 18th century Britain were laughed at and called 'mincing Frenchmen'.
Quote of the Day
"A Conservative government is an organised hypocrisy.
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~ Benjamin Disraeli
On This Day
461 Roman emperor Julius Valerius Majorianus was beheaded in north-west Italy by his former friend Ricimer, following a disastrous naval battle with the Vandals in the Bay of Alicante.
1613 Sir Thomas Fleming, the judge who presided over the trial of Guy Fawkes following the Gun powder Plot, died suddenly in his bed, aged 69.
1840 The Chimney Sweepers and Chimneys Regulation Act 1840 was passed. It was designed to prevent children climbing chimneys as chimney sweeps. However, it was largely ignored due to lack of enforcement.
1914 The first elements of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) landed in France following the declaration of war with Germany. By the end of 1914, much of the old army had been wiped out.
1933 The start of the five-day Simele Massacre against Assyrians by Iraqi forces, sparked by clashes with the Iraqi army after Assyrian refugees were refused entry into Syria.