ullage

[ uhl-ij ]

noun

1. the amount by which the contents fall short of filling a container, as a cask or bottle.
2. the quantity of wine, liquor, or the like, remaining in a container that has lost part of its contents by evaporation, leakage, or use.
3. Rocketry. the volume of a loaded tank of liquid propellant in excess of the volume of the propellant; the space provided for thermal expansion of the propellant and the accumulation of gases evolved from it.

ullage

/ ˈʌlɪdʒ /

noun

1. the volume by which a liquid container falls short of being full
2. 1. the quantity of liquid lost from a container due to leakage or evaporation
   2. (in customs terminology) the amount of liquid remaining in a container after such loss

verb

1. to create ullage in
2. to determine the amount of ullage in
3. to fill up ullage in

Derived Forms

• ˈullaged, adjective

Other Words From

• ullaged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ullage¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English ulage, oylage, from Anglo-French ulliage, from Old French ouillage, (h)eullage “wine needed to fill a cask,” equivalent to ouill(er), (a)ouill(er) “to fill (a cask)” (derivative of ouil “eye, hole, bunghole,” from Latin oculus ) + -age; eye ( def ), -age

Word History and Origins

Origin of ullage¹

C15: from Old French ouillage filling of a cask, from ouiller to fill a cask, from ouil eye, from Latin oculus eye

Example Sentences

But I also look for the ullage, the space between the cork and the wine.

From Washington Post

"Now, you ebony thief, I'll swear that there was half a bottle left when I took my last glass; for I held the bottle up to the candle to ascertain the ullage."

From Project Gutenberg

“Now, you ebony thief, I’ll swear that there was half a bottle left when I took my last glass; for I held the bottle up to the candle to ascertain the ullage.”

From Project Gutenberg

All air is carefully excluded from the casks, any ullage is immediately checked, and as evaporation is continually going on the casks 83 are examined every fortnight, when any deficiency is at once replenished.

From Project Gutenberg

Antonyms: diffuse, prolix, long. shortage, n. deficiency, insufficiency, inadequacy, deficit, ullage.

From Project Gutenberg