TUN'NAGE, adjective [from tun.] The amount of tuns that a ship will carry; the content or burthen of a ship. A ship pays duty according to her tunnage 1. The duty charged on ships according to their burthen, or the number of tuns at which they are rated. 2. A duty laid on liquors according to their measure. 3. A duty paid to mariners by merchants for unloading their ships, after a rate by the tun. 4. The whole amount of shipping, estimated by the tuns.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI