tun

plural tuns · alternative obsolete tunne · alternative obsolete tonne

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

   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.

   1882, James Edwin Thorold Rogers, A History of Agriculture and Prices in England, page 205

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

   Synonyms: long ton

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

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

   1682, John Dryden, Mac Flecknoe, lines 195–196

   1 more example

   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.

   1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii]

   Synonyms: ton

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

   Synonyms: drunkard

7. Any shell belonging to Tonna and allied genera.
8. The cryptobiotic state of a tardigrade, when its metabolism is temporarily suspended.
9. obsoleteOxford University; Pembroke College; Oxford University; Pembroke CollegeA small silver cup holding half a pint, sometimes having a whistle in the handle that could not be blown until the cup was empty.

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

   1900, Douglas Macleane, Pembroke College, page 249

10. UKdialectala chimney.

present singular third person tuns · participle present tunning · participle past tunned · past tunned · alternative obsolete tunne · alternative obsolete tonne

1. transitiveTo put into tuns, or casks.

   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

   1843, Mary Holland, The Complete Economical Cook, and Frugal Housewife, 14th edition, page 407

plural tuns · plural tunob · alternative obsolete tunne · alternative obsolete tonne

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

plural tuns · alternative obsolete tunne · alternative obsolete tonne

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

plural Tuns

1. A surname from Burmese.