ferry

American  

[fer-ee] / ˈfɛr i /

noun

plural

ferries

1. a commercial service with terminals and boats for transporting persons, automobiles, etc., across a river or other comparatively small body of water.

2. a ferryboat.

3. a service for flying airplanes over a particular route, especially the delivery of airplanes to an overseas purchaser or base of operations.

4. the legal right to ferry passengers, cargo, etc., and to charge for the service.

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verb (used with object)

ferried, ferrying

1. to carry or convey back and forth over a fixed route in a boat or plane.

2. to fly (an airplane) over a particular route, especially for delivery.

verb (used without object)

ferried, ferrying

1. to go in a ferry.

ferry British  

/ ˈfɛrɪ /

noun

1. Also called: ferryboat.  a vessel for transporting passengers and usually vehicles across a body of water, esp as a regular service

2. 1. such a service

   2. ( in combination )

      a ferryman

3. a legal right to charge for transporting passengers by boat

4. the act or method of delivering aircraft by flying them to their destination

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verb

1. to transport or go by ferry

2. to deliver (an aircraft) by flying it to its destination

3. (tr) to convey (passengers, goods, etc)

   the guests were ferried to the church in taxis

Other Word Forms

• unferried adjective

Etymology

Origin of ferry

before 1150; Middle English ferien, Old English ferian to carry; cognate with Old Norse ferja, Gothic farjan; akin to fare

Example Sentences

Placards by a monument read "let the ferries in" and "this town is ours", however the place appears to be deserted.

From BBC

Police said they found all the stolen goods -- except for a wooden cat sculpture -- with only minor damage when they searched a car the following day at a ferry terminal south of the museum.

From Barron's

Orlando Palomino, a 44-year-old who pedals up to 70 kilometers a day as he ferries people from town to town, boasted that he had work "from Monday to Monday."

From Barron's

But if you are crossing the English Channel by ferry from the port of Dover, taking the Eurotunnel shuttle to France, or getting the Eurostar train, it will be done as you leave the UK.

From BBC

Airlines have recently halted flights to Cuba due to a lack of jet fuel, and some have sent empty planes to ferry tourists back home.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• carry
• chauffeur
• lug
• send
• ship
• shuttle
• tote
• transport