gunnage

1. (historical) A bounty or prize paid to the captors of an enemy ship, based on the number of guns on that enemy ship.Examples: "Now Sir, if you look back you'll find the Number of Guns exactly agree with the Gunnage here payd; and that after the passing his Accounts and deducting his own share, he gave them a Note for 300 l, which being divided as the Act directs, there is coming to the King about 84 l."; "Letter unsigned, by order of the Lords of the Treasury, addressed to the Officers of Ordnance, touching 133l. 6s. 8d., which had been ordered into the hands of the treasurer and paymaster of the office of ordnance for Capt. Walters, on account of gunnage: desiring them to order the treasurer to pay the captain that sum not on account of gunnage, but as bounty for extraordinary service."; "All prizes would now be worth 10s a ton for every ton of the prize, and ₤6 13s 4d for every gun she carried ('tonnage and gunnage'); if an enemy warship was destroyed, prize money would be paid at the rate of £10 per gun."historical