Etymology Map
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Carry

3 stages from Late Latin to English.

Today it means to support and move from one place to another

Where does the word "carry" come from? It comes from Late Latin carrus, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
carrus
Late Latin · ancient
"wagon"
a Gaulish word adopted into Latin for a four-wheeled wagon; also the root of 'car'
2
Stage 2 of 3
carier
Old French · medieval
"to transport by cart"
a Norman French verb meaning to haul goods by cart
3
Stage 3 of 3
carry
English · 1300s
"to transport"
'carry on' dates from the 1600s, first as a sailing term
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Read the full story

Carry’s story begins in Late Latin: carrus meant “wagon.” A Gaulish word adopted into Latin for a four-wheeled wagon; also the root of 'car'. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as carier. A Norman French verb meaning to haul goods by cart. It reached English by 1300s as carry. 'carry on' dates from the 1600s, first as a sailing term. Today, carry means to support and move from one place to another.