Tun

Definitions

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 surname from Burmese.
3. A part of the ancient Maya Long Count Calendar system which corresponds to 18 winal cycles or 360 days.
4. A respectful term of address to royalties and certain award recipients
   Malaysia
5. A fermenting vat.
6. A traditional unit of liquid measure (from the volume of such a cask) equal to 252 wine gallons or 2 pipes.
   historical
7. Synonym of long ton: a unit of mass equal to 2240 pounds, 20 hundredweights of 112 pounds avoirdupois each.
8. Synonym of ton: any extremely or excessively large amount.
   figuratively
9. Synonym of drunkard: a person who drinks excessively.
   archaic, derogatory, humorous
10. Any shell belonging to Tonna and allied genera.
11. The cryptobiotic state of a tardigrade, when its metabolism is temporarily suspended.
12. 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.
    obsolete
13. a chimney.
    UK, dialectal

Equivalents

Examples

“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.”

“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.”

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

CEFR level