Emily Dickinson Lexicon

TUN'NAGE, n. [from tun.]

1. The amount of tuns that a ship; will carry; the content or burden of a ship. A ship pays a duty according to her tunnage.
2. The duty charged on ships according to their burden, or the number of tuns at which they are rated. U. States' Laws.
3. A duty laid on liquors according to their measure. – Cyc.
4. A duty paid to mariners by merchants for unloading their ships, after a rate by the tun. – Cyc.
5. The whole amount of shipping, estimated by the tuns.