bill of lading

American  

[bil uhv ley-ding] / ˈbɪl əv ˈleɪ dɪŋ /

noun

Commerce.

1. a written receipt given by a carrier for goods accepted for transportation. b.l., B.L., b/l, B/L

---

bill of lading British  

noun

1. Usual US and Canadian name: waybill.  (in foreign trade) a document containing full particulars of goods shipped or for shipment

---

Etymology

Origin of bill of lading

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

Pacing the warehouse floor, Mellano ticked off items on the bill of lading.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 31, 2024

The data seen by Reuters is based on shipping and customs documents like bill of lading and shipping bills and collected from several customs departments, government bodies and other partners.

From Reuters • Apr. 14, 2023

Asked about the boxes, the crew produced a bill of lading listing the contents, in awkward English, as “assembly parts of the underwater pump.”

From Washington Post • Oct. 1, 2017

If it’s an ocean shipment, we will get a bill of lading like this, which states “Orient Overseas Container Line.”

From Slate • Apr. 6, 2015

The bill of lading bore the British seal affixed by the Consul, to whom the shipper was personally known.

From Memoirs of Service Afloat, During the War Between the States by Semmes, Raphael