It's not just slang there is a quantity called "a butt". Strange stuff you learn piddling around with compooters: <table style="margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="border: 0pt none ; margin: 0pt; padding: 6px 0pt 0pt 9px; width: 46px; vertical-align: top;" width="46"> </td> <td style="border: 0pt none ; margin: 0pt; padding: 0pt; width: 100%; vertical-align: middle; text-align: left;" width="100%"> What is the metric equivalent of a butt load? In: Units of Measure </td> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <!-- google_ad_section_end --> <script type="text/javascript"> capitalOneround('alternateMsg'); $('disclaimerLink').innerHTML = 'user-generated content:'+ ' report abuse'; </script> <!-- google ads 468x60 --> Free Unit Conversions Convert Units of Measurement With Google. Search On. www.Google.com/Conversions <!-- if no answer, let the user know how to contribute --> <!-- display answer --> <!-- google_ad_section_start --> There is an exact unit of volume called the butt. See Webster's dictionary: Butt - a measure of liquid capacity equal to 126 gallons or two hogs heads. In another dictionary: An English butt is 2 hogshead of 54 imperial gallons each or ~129.7 US gallons (i.e., a UK butt is apparently slightly bigger than a US one). A Spanish butt is based on a wine cask and is equivalent to 140 US gallons or ~116.6 UK gallons (i.e., a Spanish butt is bigger still) So next time someone says they have a "butt load" of stuff, just remember, that is about 2 55-gallon barrels worth of stuff. To recap: 1 butt equals: 2 hogsheads (this is probably the easiest to remember for social occasions) 476.961 liters 126 gallons 104.917 UK gallons 13.5347 bushels 0.131592 cords 11.6574 firkins 4032 gills 21504 ponys 4032 noggins 1008 pints 96768 teaspoons 12.0308 ephahs 1.58987x10^7 drops 10752 jiggers 16128 shots 629.504 wine bottles 630 fifths And the punch line... one microbutt = 0.0968 teaspoons <!-- google_ad_section_end --> http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_metric_equivalent_of_a_butt_load
From whence "scuttlebutt". A butt of fresh water for drinking on board ship, near the scuttles (you can look that one up) where the crew told stories, facts got passed and rumors in particular.
