This article focuses on Genitive of measure constructions in Russian, i.e. stakan molika (glass of milk). The concrete container noun, in this case the glass, through semantic shifts becomes a unit of measure. Metonymy seems to play a role in this shift of meaning, although this is not clear enough. Other constructions such as parameter-headed NPs as modifiers in English (Partee 1986) and Genitive with Obligatory Third Term (Borschev & Knorina 1990) in Russian are briefly discussed.