tonnage

or tun·nage

[ tuhn-ij ]

noun

1. the capacity of a merchant vessel, expressed either in units of weight, as deadweight tons, ton, or of volume, as gross tons. ton.
2. ships collectively considered with reference to their carrying capacity or together with their cargoes.
3. a duty on ships or boats at so much per ton of cargo or freight, or according to the capacity in tons. ton.

tonnage

/ ˈtʌnɪdʒ /

noun

1. the capacity of a merchant ship expressed in tons, for which purpose a ton is considered as 40 cubic feet of freight or 100 cubic feet of bulk cargo, unless such an amount would weigh more than 2000 pounds in which case the actual weight is used
2. the weight of the cargo of a merchant ship
3. the total amount of shipping of a port or nation, estimated by the capacity of its ships
4. a duty on ships based either on their capacity or their register tonnage

Word History and Origins

Origin of tonnage¹

1375–1425; late Middle English: duty < Old French. See ton ¹, -age

Word History and Origins

Origin of tonnage¹

C15: from Old French, from tonne barrel

Example Sentences

The exact tonnage of the San Gabriel Mountains, which frame Dodger Stadium in Chavez Ravine, has never been measured.

From Washington Post

It was a key reason why the half million U.S. soldiers and massive bomb tonnage could not achieve decisive military victory.

From The Daily Beast

On the negative side, the sheer tonnage of opinions can overwhelm and cause a degree of amnesia.

From The Daily Beast

His death is not commensurate with the tonnage of human suffering he caused.

From The Daily Beast

The tonnage entered in Philippine ports shows a rapid annual increase in five years.

From Project Gutenberg

Old and new measurements, tonnage, time allowances and movable ballast, are all a sealed book to me.

From Project Gutenberg

These vessels, indeed, were of no considerable tonnage; but I confess myself at a loss to guess their object.

From Project Gutenberg

This was owing to there still being a tonnage class, A, B and C, the new rating and the length classes.

From Project Gutenberg

The object of handicaps is to get sport amongst craft of varied tonnage, class, and build, by giving time allowance.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• amount
• breadth
• capacity
• content
• diameter
• extent
• height
• intensity
• length
• magnitude
• proportion
• range
• scope
• stature
• volume
• width