Freight
/freɪt/noun
Goods transported by truck, train, ship, or aircraft.
Did you know?The term 'freight' derives from a Latin word meaning 'to carry,' but it also hints at a history of transporting stolen goods, evoking images of piracy!
Etymological Timeline
Old French
Old French
freit
“A charge for transport or carriage, often involving goods taken by force.”
Latin
Latin
fractus
“Broken, or a breaking; related to the act of carrying something that could be damaged.”
Late Middle English
Middle English
freit
“To load a ship or to transport goods.”
Modern English
English
freight
“The act of transporting goods, especially for commercial purposes.”