Tonnages

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The total weight of cargo measured in tons, often used in shipping and transportation contexts
2. The quantification or measurement of weight expressed in tons, especially concerning bulk shipments or freight
3. A calculation or reference of the total volume of goods transported, typically represented in tons for logistical assessments

Etymology: "Tonnages" is the plural of "tonnage," a noun meaning a quantity measured in tons. The base word is "tonne," which is itself a borrowing from French, and the "-age" ending is a French suffix that forms nouns expressing a measure, a charge, or a collective quantity. English took "tonnage" from Old French "tonnage," which combined "tonne" (a large cask, and later a unit of weight) with that suffix. The plural form appears when speakers want to refer to several separate totals, such as the weights of different ships, cargoes, or shipping fleets. Since "tonnage" already names a total, the plural simply counts distinct amounts of it, each one a separate figure in tons.

Synonyms: weights, mass, freight, cargo, load

Antonyms: lightness, insignificance, featherweight, emptiness, nullity