This section is from the book "The Engineer's And Mechanic's Encyclopaedia", by Luke Hebert. Also available from Amazon: Engineer's And Mechanic's Encyclopaedia.
A large cask or barrel, which has probably derived its name from its capability to hold about a ton weight of ordinary liquids; or the measure of weight might be derived from that of capacity. A tun of vegetable oil is 236 gallons; of animal oil, 252 gallons; of wine, 252 gallons.
 
Continue to: