ullage

Meaning

Noun

1. In a wine bottle, the empty space between the cork and the top of the wine.
2. In a cask or barrel, the empty space, occupied by air, that is created by not completely filling the cask or barrel, or through spillage.
3. The topping-up of such a barrel with fresh wine.
4. In an industrial setting, the empty space in a tank, especially as for fuel.
5. Additional cargo of little or no value taken on to prevent movement of shifting of the purposive cargo.
6. (obsolete,slang) Left-over wine surreptiously drunk by waiters as they clear away the glasses.

Verb

To gauge the amount of empty space between the top of a cask and the level of liquid inside it.

Synonyms

leakage

headspace

shortage

shortfall

slippage

short weight

decrement

shortage in weight

deficit

leak

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈʌl.ɪd͡ʒ/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: ulage

In summary

From Middle English ulage, from Anglo-Norman ulliage, from *ullier (“to fill a partially empty cask”), from Old French oel (“bunghole”, literally “eye”), from Latin oculus (“eye”). See French ouillage.