Dray
/dreɪ/noun
A low, strong cart or wagon used for heavy loads.
Did you know?Dray is historically connected to the same old Germanic root behind words for *dragging* and *drawing*, showing how everyday transport vocabulary grew out of the physical act of pulling weight.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dʰrew-
“to pull, draw, or drag”
Old English
OE
dræġan
“to draw, pull, or drag”
Middle English
ME
dray
“a sledge or cart for dragging heavy loads”
16th Century
English
dray
“a strong low cart used for heavy burdens”
Modern English
English
dray
“a low cart or wagon for transporting heavy goods”