ullage

[ uhl-ij ]

noun

1. the amount by which the contents fall short of filling a container, as a cask or bottle.
2. the quantity of wine, liquor, or the like, remaining in a container that has lost part of its contents by evaporation, leakage, or use.
3. Rocketry. the volume of a loaded tank of liquid propellant in excess of the volume of the propellant; the space provided for thermal expansion of the propellant and the accumulation of gases evolved from it.

ullage

/ ˈʌlɪdʒ /

noun

1. the volume by which a liquid container falls short of being full
2. 1. the quantity of liquid lost from a container due to leakage or evaporation
   2. (in customs terminology) the amount of liquid remaining in a container after such loss

verb

1. to create ullage in
2. to determine the amount of ullage in
3. to fill up ullage in

Derived Forms

• ˈullaged, adjective

Other Words From

• ullaged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ullage¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English ulage, oylage, from Anglo-French ulliage, from Old French ouillage, (h)eullage “wine needed to fill a cask,” equivalent to ouill(er), (a)ouill(er) “to fill (a cask)” (derivative of ouil “eye, hole, bunghole,” from Latin oculus ) + -age; eye ( def ), -age

Word History and Origins

Origin of ullage¹

C15: from Old French ouillage filling of a cask, from ouiller to fill a cask, from ouil eye, from Latin oculus eye