bbl
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Barrel (oil) |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Units & Measurements, Texting & Internet Slang |
| Also written | BBL |
bbl has two meanings. It stands for Barrel (oil) (US customary and imperial unit) or Be back later (texting and chat).
Meanings of bbl at a glance
| # | bbl stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barrel (oil) | Units & Measurements › US Customary and Imperial Unit |
| 2 | Be back later | Texting & Internet Slang › Texting and Chat |
1. Barrel (oil)
Units & Measurements · US Customary and Imperial Unit Abbreviations
The standard unit for crude oil and petroleum products, equal to 42 US gallons or about 159 liters. Oil prices, production figures and reserves worldwide are quoted in barrels, as in $75 per bbl or 13 million bbl per day.
Example: Crude inventories fell by 2.1 million bbl last week, more than analysts expected.
The 42-gallon barrel was adopted by Pennsylvania oil producers in 1866. Why the abbreviation doubles the b is uncertain; the often-repeated "blue barrel" explanation is unproven. Production is written bbl/d or bpd, and boe means barrel of oil equivalent. US beer barrels are a different size, 31 gallons.
2. Be back later (BBL)
Texting & Internet Slang · Texting and Chat Abbreviations
Leaving message in chats and games signaling the writer will return after a longer break, often hours. It sets the expectation that replies will be delayed.
Example: Heading to work now, bbl, keep the server running.
Since the late 2010s BBL has also been widely used for "Brazilian butt lift," a cosmetic surgery discussed in celebrity gossip and on social media, so context decides which is meant. In a chat sign-off, the farewell meaning is the natural reading.
Related abbreviations
More US customary and imperial unit abbreviations
- ac – Acre
- ac-ft – Acre-foot
- bd ft – Board foot
- bu – Bushel
- CCF – Hundred cubic feet
- ch – Chain
- cu ft – Cubic foot
- cu in – Cubic inch
See all 43 US customary and imperial unit abbreviations →