dunnage

noun

dun·​nage ˈdə-nij 

1

: loose materials used to support and protect cargo in a ship's hold

also : padding in a shipping container

2

: baggage

Did you know?

Is There a dunnage and Cheese Connection?

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.

Examples of dunnage in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There are no stone dunnage warehouses or misty Highland glens here — just a compact, highly functional production site where copper stills run steadily, and barrels quietly mature in the cool Tasmanian air. — Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes.com, 19 Feb. 2026

But not before stepping into Bowmore’s oldest dunnage warehouse to hand fill a bottle of single malt that’s been maturing there since 1998. — Brad Japhe, Forbes, 14 Oct. 2024

Orbis manufactures plastic reusable totes, bulk containers, pallets and dunnage. — Rick Barrett, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2018

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for dunnage

• tonnage

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