break bulk
Americanadjective
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of or relating to general cargo, usually manufactured goods, that is marked for individual consignees and has to be loaded and unloaded piece by piece at each point of transfer.
Despite the dominance of container shipping, these companies continue to specialize in break bulk cargo, especially in the transport of large vehicles and agricultural equipment, which often need to be broken down into smaller components.
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of or relating to the small, conventional cargo ships designed to hold general cargo.
We are confident that the future of break bulk vessels is safe, with no chance of their becoming redundant.
Etymology
Origin of break bulk
First recorded in 1615–25; break ( def. 10 ) + bulk 1 ( def. 16 )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Until the late 1990s, fresh produce was shipped on break bulk ships—general cargo vessels with big refrigerated spaces—from the production site to a single destination.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 29, 2018
Railroads do not break bulk between North and South.
From The South and the National Government by Taft, William H.
No vessel to break bulk until reported and entered at the naval officer's office; and every ship to hoist her colours on public days; in case of refusal, all intercourse to cease.
From The Present Picture of New South Wales (1811) by Mann, David Dickinson
The delay and expense to which merchants are subjected, when obliged to "break bulk" repeatedly between the port whence they sail and that of their destination, is extreme.
From Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. 1. No 1, June 1850 by Various
In ten days to three weeks, according to weather and size of the meat, break bulk and resalt, using the old salt again, with just a little new salt added.
From Home Pork Making by Fulton, A. W.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
