Dunnage

WORD OF THE DAY


dunnage \ DUN-ij \ noun
 
Definition
1a : loose materials used to support and protect cargo in a ship's hold
1b: padding in a shipping container
2 : baggage


Examples
The listed weight on the shipping order did not account for the container and dunnage.


"There are … efforts to reduce impact on the environment, with employees reusing as much of the packing material as possible. Boxes can be reused or turned into dunnage to use in packing."
— The Crossville (Tennessee) Chronicle, 26 Nov. 2012
 
Did You Know?
Etymologists don't know the exact origin of dunnage. Some have pointed out the similarity of the word to dünne twige, a Low German term meaning "brushwood," but no one has ever proven the two are related. Others have speculated that it derives from Dunlop, the name of a famous cheese-making town in Scotland; however, neither the town nor the cheese has any connection to dunnage. Truth be told, though dunnage has been with us since the 15th century, its etymological history remains a mystery.