ferry
[fer-ee]
- a commercial service with terminals and boats for transporting persons, automobiles, etc., across a river or other comparatively small body of water.
- a ferryboat.
- a service for flying airplanes over a particular route, especially the delivery of airplanes to an overseas purchaser or base of operations.
- the legal right to ferry passengers, cargo, etc., and to charge for the service.
Show More
- to carry or convey back and forth over a fixed route in a boat or plane.
- to fly (an airplane) over a particular route, especially for delivery.
Show More
- to go in a ferry.
Show More
Origin of ferry
before 1150; Middle English ferien, Old English ferian to carry; cognate with Old Norse ferja, Gothic farjan; akin to fare
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words
bargeferryboattotesendshuttlelugcarryshiptransportchauffeurpacketbuckrunbearconveypackschleppExamples from the Web for ferry
Contemporary Examples
And earlier that day, the 43-year-old had earned the précis, breaking up a skirmish by the Staten Island Ferry.
Before Eric Garner, There Was Michael Stewart: The Tragic Story of the Real-Life Radio RaheemMarlow Stern
December 4, 2014
There was no trouble on the ferry as it reached Manhattan and a few of the passengers boarded the subway to the protest uptown.
As a precaution against a possible disturbance, the ferry was escorted by a police boat, its blue lights flashing.
Marine One will ferry him to JFK Airport, where Air Force One awaits.
For a more scenic journey, travel by ferry from Whittier or Valdez.
Historical Examples
Not until five o'clock had he by turns urged and fought himself to the ferry.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
He crossed the ferry and went to the hotel, where he shaved and freshened himself.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
Then he told how he had met Mr Clennam at the ferry, and they had come over together.
Little DorritCharles Dickens
Ferry's scouts are there, and you'll say to Lieutenant Ferry the single word, Rodney.
The CavalierGeorge Washington Cable
Then Ferry called "Fours from the right, to march to the left--march!"
The CavalierGeorge Washington Cable
ferry
- Also called: ferryboat a vessel for transporting passengers and usually vehicles across a body of water, esp as a regular service
- such a service
- (in combination)a ferryman
- a legal right to charge for transporting passengers by boat
- the act or method of delivering aircraft by flying them to their destination
Show More
- to transport or go by ferry
- to deliver (an aircraft) by flying it to its destination
- (tr) to convey (passengers, goods, etc)the guests were ferried to the church in taxis
Show More
Word Origin
Old English ferian to carry, bring; related to Old Norse ferja to transport, Gothic farjan; see fare
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for ferry
v.
Old English ferian "to carry, convey, bring, transport," from Proto-Germanic *farjanan (cf. Old Frisian feria "carry, transport," Old Norse ferja "to pass over, to ferry," Gothic farjan "travel by boat"), from PIE *per- "going, passage." Related to fare (v.). Related: Ferried; ferries; ferrying.
Show More
n.
early 15c., "a passage over a river," from Old Norse ferju- "passage across water," ultimately from the same Germanic root as ferry (v.). The modern noun (1580s) is a shortening of ferry boat (mid-15c.).
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper