Tun-shell

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Tun \Tun\ (t[u^]n), n. [AS. tunne. See {Ton} a weight.]
     1. A large cask; an oblong vessel bulging in the middle, like
        a pipe or puncheon, and girt with hoops; a wine cask.
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     2. (Brewing) A fermenting vat.


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     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.
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     4. (Com.) A weight of 2,240 pounds. See {Ton}. [R.]
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     5. An indefinite large quantity. --Shak.
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              A tun of man in thy large bulk is writ. --Dryden.
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     6. A drunkard; -- so called humorously, or in contempt.
                                                    --Dryden.
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     7. (Zool.) Any shell belonging to {Dolium} and allied genera;
        -- called also {tun-shell}.
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