drum

drum, in packaging, cylindrical container commonly made of metal or fibreboard. Steel drums with capacities ranging up to 100 U.S. gallons (379 litres) have been produced since about 1903; the sizes less than 12 gallons (45 litres) are called pails. The most common drums are made of 18-gauge (0.048-inch, or 1.2-millimetre, thick) steel and contain 55 gallons (208 litres); they become the property of the buyer of the contents. Heavier drums or those made of...