tun — English Dictionary

Noun

1. A large cask; an oblong vessel bulging in the middle, like a pipe or puncheon, and girt with hoops; a wine cask. (See a diagram comparing cask sizes.)

2. A fermenting vat.

3. A traditional unit of liquid measure (from the volume of such a cask) equal to 252 wine gallons or 2 pipes.

   Usage

   • Historical

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Again, by 28 Hen. VIII, cap. 14, it is re-enacted that the tun of wine should contain 252 gallons, a butt of Malmsey 126 gallons, a pipe 126 gallons, a tercian or puncheon 84 gallons, a hogshead 63 gallons, a tierce 41 gallons, a barrel 31.5 gallons, a rundlet 18.5 gallons.

4. Synonym of long ton: a unit of mass equal to 2240 pounds, 20 hundredweights of 112 pounds avoirdupois each.

5. Synonym of ton: any extremely or excessively large amount.

   Usage

   • Figurative

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   He therefore sends you, meeter for your spirit, / This tun of treasure; and, in lieu of this, / Desires you let the dukedoms that you claim / Hear no more of you.

   A Tun of Man in thy Large bulk is writ, / But sure thou'rt but a Kilderkin of wit.

6. Synonym of drunkard: a person who drinks excessively.

   Usage

   • Archaic
   • Derogatory
   • Humorous

7. Any shell belonging to Tonna and allied genera.

8. The cryptobiotic state of a tardigrade, when its metabolism is temporarily suspended.

9. A small silver cup holding half a pint, sometimes having a whistle in the handle that could not be blown until the cup was empty.

   Usage

   • Obsolete

   Examples

   So abundant is the supply of tankards and "tuns" […]

10. a chimney.

    Usage

    • UK usage
    • dialectal

Verb

1. To put into tuns, or casks.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   Strong beer that is brewed in small quantities, and ale, whatever the quantity may be, should be tunned the second day after brewing; and small beer should be tunned as soon as it has fairly taken the yeast

Noun

1. A part of the ancient Maya Long Count Calendar system which corresponds to 18 winal cycles or 360 days.

   Related words

   tun-moot

Noun

1. A respectful term of address to royalties and certain award recipients

   Usage

   • Malaysia

Noun

1. a large cask especially one holding a volume equivalent to 2 butts or 252 gals

   Broader terms

   barrelcask