ferry

[ fer-ee ]

noun

, plural fer·ries.

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)

, fer·ried, fer·ry·ing.

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)

, fer·ried, fer·ry·ing.

1. to go in a ferry.

ferry

/ ˈfɛrɪ /

noun

1. Also calledferryboat 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 Words From

• un·ferried 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

For islanders, whose lives are so interwoven with the sea, the ships of Britain's biggest ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne are more than just large lumps of steel and aluminium.

From BBC

He led a demonstration against Skye Sunday ferries in 1965 and was removed by police after sitting in front of cars waiting to board.

From BBC

Catamarans consist of two parallel hulls connected by a single deck, and range from lightweight boats used in Olympic sailing, to huge passenger ferries.

From BBC

But local people say this hasn’t happened: there are still only four ferries to the main island of Mauritius every year, and no passenger flights.

From BBC

Islanders are facing a "challenging and difficult" winter because of potential disruption to ferry services, Scotland's transport minister has warned.

From BBC

Related Words

• barge
• ferryboat