A liquid measure, used esp. of honey. The actual capacity was variable - 24 and 23 ounces are recorded. As a dry measure, it was used of grain; 12 bushels in later Middle Ages. [< Lat. sextarius = one sixth; in Roman measures, one sixth of a bucket (*congius)]. -
Cf. Sextary
Dictionary of Medieval Terms and Phrases. Christopher Coredon with Ann Williams.