ton1 (tun)

[A form of tun, phonetically archaic, retained in designations of measure prob. by reason of its use in statutes, where the F. and ML. forms are usually favored: see tun1.] 1t. A cask; hence, a measure of capacity used for wine. See tun1, 1.-2. A measure of capacity: used (a) for timber, 40 feet of oak or ash timber, sometimes 48 or 50 feet of hewn; (b) for flour, 8 sacks or 10 barrels; (c) for potatoes, 10 to 36 bushels; ( d ) for wheat, 20 bushels; (e) for earth or gravel, 1 cubic yard, sometimes 23 cubic feet; (f) for grindstones, 15 cubic feet; (g) for Portland stone, 16 cubic feet; ( h ) for salt, 42 bushels; (i) for lime, 40 bushels; ( j ) for coke, 28 bushels; ( k ) for the carrying capacity of a ship, 40 cubic feet (this is what is called the actual tonnage: see tonnage ). Here arrived yesterday a Dutch ship of 300 tons , with 250 tons of salt, sent by Mr. Onge from Lisbon. Winthrop, Hist. New England, II. 430. 3. A measure of weight, equal to 20 hundredweight or 2,240 pounds avoirdupois (the long ton), or in the United States to 2,000 pounds (the short ton). - Metric ton, a measure of weight equal to 1,000 kilograms, or 2,204.6 pounds. - Register ton. See tonnage, 2. ... ton2 (ton), n. [F. ton , tone: see tonel . Hence tonnish.] The prevailing mode; high fashion; style; air of fashion. See bon -ton. Nature and it then made some- made you, thing very lovely; and if you would suffer us of quality Colman, Wife, ii. As praying's the ton of your fashion; A prayer from the muse you well may excuse. Burns, Ye Sons of Old Killie. maker, Thomas Tompion , who died in 1669.] A watch. Seager . Lac'd in her cosins [stays] new appear'd the bride, A bubble-bow and tompion at her side. So have I seene Tom - piper stand upon our village greene, Backt with the May-pole, while a jocund crew In gentle motion circularly threw Themselves about him. ton3t, indef. pron. See tone2.