dunnage

A sailor places fresh dunnage between crates in the ship's hold.

Definition

1. Noun (uncountable):
   • Maritime packing material: "dunnage" refers to loose materials, such as straw, wood shavings, or padding, used to protect cargo from moisture, damage, or shifting during transportation, especially on ships.

Usage Examples

• (The padding material was used for moisture protection.)
• (Improvised packing material for cushioning.)
• (The protective material was essential for safety.)

Advanced Usage

• "loose dunnage": unpackaged, disposable padding material like straw or wood chips.
  • The warehouse supplied loose dunnage for the crates. (Unpackaged, bulk padding.)
• "dunnage allowance": a small amount of extra space or weight allocated in a vessel for packing materials.
  • The ship's manifest included a dunnage allowance of 2% of the total cargo weight. (A reserved margin for packing.)

Variants and Related Words

• Dunnage bag (n): a large inflatable bag used to fill gaps and stabilize cargo.
  • The workers placed dunnage bags between the pallets to stop them from moving. (An inflatable padding device.)
• Dunnage rack (n): a wooden or metal frame used to hold packing materials.
  • The dunnage rack in the hold kept the straw bales organized. (A storage structure for padding.)

Synonyms

• Packing: material used to protect goods during transport.
• Padding: soft material for cushioning.
• Stowage: the arrangement or material used to secure cargo.

Related Idioms

• "Make dunnage": (nautical slang) to create or prepare packing material.
  • The sailors had to make dunnage from old rope and canvas. (To improvise padding.)
• "Dunnage and damage": a legal term referring to the cost of packing and potential harm to goods.
  • The contract specified liability for dunnage and damage. (Packing expenses and repair costs.)