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ton·nage

(tŭnĭj)

1. The number of tons of water that a ship displaces when afloat.

2. The capacity of a merchant ship, often measured in units of 100 cubic feet.

3. A duty or charge per ton on cargo, as at a port or canal.

4. The total shipping of a country or port, figured in tons, with reference to carrying capacity.

5. Weight measured in tons.

[TON + -AGE. Sense 3, Middle English, from Old French, from tonne, tun; see TONNE.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

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Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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