ullages

Noun

ullage (countable and uncountable, plural ullages)

1. In a wine bottle, the empty space between the cork and the top of the wine.
2. (alcohol production) 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.
   • The dry ullage will be obtained in the same manner, the dry inches being used instead of the wet.1840, Joseph Bateman, The Excise Officer's Manual and Improved Gauger
3. The topping up of such a barrel with fresh wine.

   Synonyms:

   ulling

4. In an industrial setting, the empty space in a tank, especially as for fuel.
   • Upon completion of loading, all cargo tanks shall again be inspected and ullages carefully measured and recorded, with temperatures, in the Cargo Record Book, Port Log and Supplementary Loading and Discharging Report.1950, Marine Regulations, Esso Shipping Company, page 234
5. Additional cargo of little or no value taken on to prevent movement or shifting of the purposive cargo.
   • […]5 hhds. rum/ 5 bbls. flour/ 1 bbl. sugar/ 9 do. pork/ 1 do. suett/ 3 do. cocoa/ 6 do. peas/ 2 ullage bbls. vinegar[…]1815 Niles Weekly Register volume 8, Supplement, p. 152. From an inventory of the frigate Confiance
6. (in plural, obsolete, slang) Leftover wine surreptitiously drunk by waiters as they clear away the glasses.
   • Mopps […] was draining his vast array of wine-glasses, lest the waiters carrying them off should find any "ullages" in them for surreptitious tippling on stair-cases.1862, Temple Bar: A London Magazine for Town and Country Readers, page 13

See all 7 meanings of ullage