tun Meaning, Definition & Usage

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

WordNet

Tun noun
Etymology
AS. tunne. See Ton a weight.
Definitions
  1. A large cask; an oblong vessel bulging in the middle, like a pipe or puncheon, and girt with hoops; a wine cask.
  2. (Brewing) A fermenting vat.
  3. A certain measure for liquids, as for wine, equal to two pipes, four hogsheads, or 252 gallons. In different countries, the tun differs in quantity.
  4. (Com.) A weight of 2,240 pounds. See Ton. R.
  5. An indefinite large quantity. Shak.
    A tun of man in thy large bulk is writ. Dryden.
  6. A drunkard; -- so called humorously, or in contempt.
  7. (Zoöl.) Any shell belonging to Dolium and allied genera; -- called also tun-shell.
Tun intransitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Tunned ; present participle & verbal noun Tunning
Definitions
  1. To put into tuns, or casks. Boyle.

Webster 1913