I need proof that the word buttload was used as a term of measurement.
I know a A butt = 126 US Fluid gallons and a load = 201.97 US Fluid
Gallons. But I heard somewhere that a "buttload" was a term used by
"sea men" back in the day. I just need some proof that this term was
or is used as an actual term of measurement. Please provide a legit
reference and feel free to ask any question you may have.

Dear droprock,

Thank you for accepting my answer. As we now know, the Oxford English
Dictionary has a citation for "butt-load" as a unit of measure equal
to "about six seams", which amounts to roughly 450 gallons.

Regards,

leapinglizard

Nothing at Merriam-Webster's Collegiate.  Perhaps a researcher with
access to the unabridged OED can help.

any idea where I can find one of them?

There is no entry in the Oxford English Dictionary for "buttload".
However, there is such a thing as a "butt-load".

  1796 MARSHALL W. England I. Gloss. (E.D.S.) Butt, a close-bodied cart; as
  dung-butt..gurry-butt..ox-butt, etc. Butt-load, about six seams.

There you have it. A butt-load is about six seams. Does that answer your question?

leapinglizard

I need the measurment term - unless a seam is a unit of
measurement..What book did you find this in? I was watching a show on
Public television about ship building and the man said buttload was a
little bit larger that a 50 gallon barrel..

2005-04-19 14:00
I first heard this term popularized about 6 years ago
on WROX 96.1 FM near the Norfolk Naval Base
where they often get whole "buttloads" of seamen.
After a while I reasoned that they were referring to
marine "boatloads" as in railway "carloads".
This is the same station that long harped on the arrest of
a black woman for having oral sex with a male
in a car front seat with a 3-year-old girl
in the back seat watching.

Indeed, a seam is a measure.

  seam: a traditional unit of volume. A seam of grain was 8 bushels: this
  would be equivalent to 290.95 liters based on the British Imperial bushel,
  or 281.91 liters based on the older U.S bushel.

UNC: Russ Rowlett: How Many?
http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/units/dictS.html

If we go by the OED's definition, a butt-load is about 450 gallons.
The definition of butt-load above is from the OED. Do you now consider
your question answered?

leapinglizard

HI,
I imagine your butt of 126 gallons =two hogshead, according to
Webster's that gives them a size of 63 to 120 gallons.  That variance
suggests that the volumes for the containers were not to precise.  I
would suspect that the man in the film was probably in error  - or had
and entirely different source for his statement.
Since barrels were used not just to transport liquids (ceramics packed
in straw, or anything else), I can imagine that a buttload could have
been an expression for the storage capacity of a sailing ship.  Your
larger butt (sorry) would seem a more logical container for
non-liquids than his 50+ gallon one, but that is not any more
specific.

leapinglizard - I will check this reference on my lunch break - if
indeed it is in there - You (leapinglizard) have answered my question.
does that work for you?

Oh, sure. But I'll wait to post my answer until you've confirmed the
dictionary entry. Any good library should have the complete Oxford
English Dictionary -- beware of the abridged or concise version!

leapinglizard

local library only had the short version - headed to the city to look
for the larger one..... Ill keep you posted.

leapinglizard - please post the answer - you were correct - Thank you millions