The "Tonne"

**Winston001** · 5th January 2010, 18:08

Originally Posted by Ixion

Ton. It's ton. Not tonne. The ton is 100 (mph). Nothing whatsoever to do with ton, 2240 lb, or tonne the metric not-quite-eqivalent. Totally different word.

Originally from Romany , 100 (of anything)

Sounds right. East London wide boys refer to 100 pounds (sterling) as a ton.

**cave weta** · 5th January 2010, 18:16

I have a badge somewhere for cracking 'The ton' on water. Karapiro, 1997 I think.

**BoristheBiter** · 5th January 2010, 18:38

1 tonne = 1000kg

**boomer** · 5th January 2010, 18:54

Originally Posted by Winston001

Sounds right. East London wide boys refer to 100 pounds (sterling) as a ton.

A ton is reference to a 100, so what ever your referring to when you use a ton its a hundred of. It's not just east london southern shandy drinkers who use the term(s); I think you were trying to refer to cockneys but never mind.

A ton is used commonly throughout the UK

**boomer** · 5th January 2010, 18:56

Originally Posted by MSTRS

The Ton is the correct term for 100mph. It is an abbreviation for 'Ton Up Club' who were the predecessors of the Rockers of the late 50s-early 60s.
Wikipedia does not give an explanation for the meaning behind this reference to the speed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ton
Informal tons

Ton is also used informally, often as slang, to mean a large amount of something (material or not), for example, "Man, I just ate a ton of french fries back there". It can also be used as a highly derogatory meaning for very overweight persons, e.g., "look at that ten-ton Tess".
In Britain, a ton is colloquially used to refer to 100 of a given unit. Ton can thus refer to a speed of 100 miles per hour e.g. "Lee was doing a ton down the motorway"; to money e.g. "How much did you pay for that?" "A ton" (£100); to 100 points in a game e.g. "Eric just threw a ton in our darts game"; or to a hundred of pretty much anything else.
A ton is 100 runs in the game of cricket (more commonly known as a century).

**Motu** · 5th January 2010, 18:59

Originally Posted by BoristheBiter

1 tonne = 1000kg

Wow - so a Tonne is 1,000kph? I could do that easy.

**peasea** · 5th January 2010, 19:04

I did the ton (100mph) twice in two days, once in the car on Sunday and once on the bike yesterday. Felt good both times but got snapped in the car just after slowing down. He pulls me over and reckons he got me at 116kph, I nearly kissed him. Coulda been car, license and a bag of cash all at once. Palpitations I tell ya!

**BoristheBiter** · 5th January 2010, 19:13

Originally Posted by Motu

Wow - so a Tonne is 1,000kph? I could do that easy.

like not

kg is weight, kph is speed not the same

**McJim** · 5th January 2010, 19:17

Originally Posted by boomer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ton
Informal tons

Ton is also used informally, often as slang, to mean a large amount of something (material or not), for example, "Man, I just ate a ton of french fries back there". It can also be used as a highly derogatory meaning for very overweight persons, e.g., "look at that ten-ton Tess".
In Britain, a ton is colloquially used to refer to 100 of a given unit. Ton can thus refer to a speed of 100 miles per hour e.g. "Lee was doing a ton down the motorway"; to money e.g. "How much did you pay for that?" "A ton" (£100); to 100 points in a game e.g. "Eric just threw a ton in our darts game"; or to a hundred of pretty much anything else.
A ton is 100 runs in the game of cricket (more commonly known as a century).

My question would be where did it originate from? Since it can be 2,000 or 2,240 lbs it doesn't readilly refer to 100. And a hundredweight is only a part of a Ton. So who was the first person to say "Ton" and mean "One Hundred"....and more to the point why?

**peasea** · 5th January 2010, 19:17

Originally Posted by BoristheBiter

like not

kg is weight, kph is speed not the same

A kg of speed would be good.

**MSTRS:Me** · 5th January 2010, 19:19

Originally Posted by McJim

My question would be where did it originate from? Since it can be 2,000 or 2,240 lbs it doesn't readilly refer to 100. And a hundredweight is only a part of a Ton. So who was the first person to say "Ton" and mean "One Hundred"....and more to the point why?

Which was my point...
Lot's of references to the ton as 100 (something) but not why the term exists.

**BoristheBiter** · 5th January 2010, 19:20

Originally Posted by peasea

A kg of speed would be good.

and costs the same as getting a ticket for 1000kph

**boomer** · 5th January 2010, 19:22

Originally Posted by Ixion

Ton. It's ton. Not tonne. The ton is 100 (mph). Nothing whatsoever to do with ton, 2240 lb, or tonne the metric not-quite-eqivalent. Totally different word.

Originally from Romany , 100 (of anything)

Originally Posted by McJim

My question would be where did it originate from? Since it can be 2,000 or 2,240 lbs it doesn't readilly refer to 100. And a hundredweight is only a part of a Ton. So who was the first person to say "Ton" and mean "One Hundred"....and more to the point why?

Originally Posted by MSTRS

Which was my point...
Lot's of references to the ton as 100 (something) but not why the term exists.

Ixion has more knowledge than any Wiki

**peasea** · 5th January 2010, 19:24

Originally Posted by BoristheBiter

and costs the same as getting a ticket for 1000kph

I'd rather pay a fine for 1,000kph actually. There's a lid to all that crap and you can drip it up after pleading not guilty and dragging through the courts. Try dripping up a kilo of toot.