Tun
Origin
From Middle English tunne, tonne ("cask, barrel"), from Old English tunne ("tun, cask, barrel"), from Proto-Germanic *tunnÇ, *tunnÅ ("tun, barrel, cask"), of unknown origin. Cognate with North Frisian tenn ("tun, barrel, cask"), Dutch ton ("tun, barrel, cask"), German Tonne ("tun, barrel, drum"), Danish tønde ("barrel"), Swedish tunna ("barrel, cask, tun"), Icelandic tunna ("barrel"). Compare also French tonne, tonneau ("ton", "barrel"), Medieval Latin tunna ("cask"), Middle Irish tunna ("cask"), Welsh tynell ("tun, barrel"). It is uncertain whether the Germanic or the Celtic forms are the original.
Full definition of tun
Noun
tun
(plural tuns)- A large cask; an oblong vessel bulging in the middle, like a pipe or puncheon, and girt with hoops; a wine cask.
- (brewing) A fermenting vat.
- An old English measure of capacity for liquids, containing 252 wine gallons; equal to two pipes.
- 1882, James Edwin Thorold Rogers, A History of Agriculture and Prices in England, p. 205: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.
- A weight of 2,240 pounds.
- An indefinite large quantity.
- unknown date DrydenA tun of man in thy large bulk is writ.
- (archaic, humorous or derogatory) A drunkard.
- (zoology) Any shell belonging to and allied genera; called also tun-shell.
- A part of the ancient Maya Long Count Calendar system which corresponds to 18 winal cycles or 360 days.
Verb
- (transitive) To put into tuns, or casks.