Tun

/tʌn/ noun

Definition

A large barrel or cask, especially one used to store wine or beer; an old measure of liquid volume.

Etymology

From Old English 'tunne,' likely from Latin 'dolium' (large jar). Medieval breweries measured their output in tuns—one tun holds about 250 gallons.

Kelly Says

A 'tun' is so large that Shakespearean times mentioned 'drowning in a tun of malmsey wine'—it's a measurement that connects directly to medieval drinking culture and comedy!

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