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tun

1. A large cask; an oblong vessel bulging in the middle, like a pipe or puncheon, and girt with hoops; a wine cask.

2. 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. A weight of 2,240 pounds. See ton.

5. An indefinite large quantity. A tun of man in thy large bulk is writ. (Dryden)

6. A drunkard; so called humorously, or in contempt.

7. (Science: zoology) Any shell belonging to dolium and allied genera; called also tun-shell.

Origin: AS. Tunne. See Ton a weight.