A unit of weight equal to 2,000 pounds in the US or 2,240 pounds in Britain. Informally means a large amount or quantity.
From Old English 'tunne' meaning a large cask or barrel, borrowed from Medieval Latin 'tunna.' Originally referred to the weight of a standard wine barrel, which became standardized as a unit of measurement.
The ton started as a wine barrel! Medieval merchants needed a standard way to measure large quantities, so they used the weight of a full 'tun' of wine as their reference point. That's why we still say someone has 'tons' of something when they have a lot - it's a relic from medieval wine trading.
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