ferry

[fer-ee]

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.

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

/ 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

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of ferry¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of ferry¹

Old English ferian to carry, bring; related to Old Norse ferja to transport, Gothic farjan ; see _fare

Example Sentences

All were drawn to the region by its juicy tax deals, deep-water Gulf Coast port and latticework of pipelines that ferry cheap natural gas and crude oil.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

She wanted to drive from her home in Flintshire, north Wales and cross the North Sea by ferry.

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As the investigation unfolds, the detectives study an array of arrival and departure times, distances and dates on multiple train lines, airlines and a ferry line.

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It has hired a local ferry to house passengers.

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Malhotra was ferrying his then-14-year-old daughter and her friends from Manhattan to Long Island, and listening from the driver’s seat to their myriad opinions on household brands.

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Related Words

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