ton

Etymology 1

Variant of tun (“cask”), influenced by Old French tonne (“ton”).

noun

1. Any of various units of mass, (historical) originally notionally equal to the contents of a tun, particularly
   1. The short ton of 2000 pounds (about 907 kg), 20 hundredweights of 100 pounds avoirdupois each.
   2. The long ton of 2240 pounds (about 1016 kg), 20 hundredweights of 112 pounds avoirdupois each.
   3. The metric ton of 1000 kilograms, 10 quintals of 100 kilograms each.
2. Any of various units of volume, (historical) originally notionally equal to the contents of a tun, particularly
   1. The measurement ton of (US) 40 or (UK) 42 cubic feet (about 1.1 or 1.2 m³).
   2. The register ton of 100 cubic feet (about 2.83 m³).
3. (figurative) Any large, excessive, or overwhelming amount of anything.
   I’ve got a ton of work to do.
   I've got tons of work to do.
4. (HVAC) A unit of thermal power equal to 12,000 BTU/h (about 3.5 kW), approximating the idealized rate of cooling provided by uniform isothermal melting of 1 short ton of ice per day at 0°C.
5. (slang, chiefly UK) Synonym of hundred, particularly
   1. 100 pounds sterling.
   2. (darts, snooker, etc.) 100 points.
   3. (cricket) 100 runs.
   4. A speed of 100 mph.
      Speed along the lane / Do a ton or a ton and twenty-five 1970, Mungo Jerry (lyrics and music), “In The Summertime”, in In The Summertime
      Neil: How fast can this thing go then, do you reckon? Simon: Well, it's the special edition, so I reckon it could probably top a ton. Neil: Bollocks! 2008, Damon Beesley, Iain Morris, “Caravan Club”, in The Inbetweeners, Series 1, Episode 5, E4
      The HSDT team, however, had some work to do, although by the end of 1972 the power car interior had been adjusted and BR had agreed to 'double-manning' with extra pay when speeds topped the ton. October 6 2021, Greg Morse, “A need for speed and the drive for 125”, in RAIL, number 941, page 50

Etymology 2

Borrowed from French ton (“manner”), from Latin tonus. Doublet of tone, tune, and tonus.

noun

1. Fashion, the current style, the vogue.
2. Fashionable society; those in style.
   [S]he thought herself incapable of being flattered by the attentions of a man she despised, because he was the reigning idol of the ton […]. 1790, Amelia Opie, chapter 13, in Dangers of Coquetry, volume I

Etymology 3

noun

1. Synonym of tunny">tunny, particularly the common tunny">tunny or horse mackerel.