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

Young boys turn cartwheels, women in vivid head-to-toe veils walk purposively past, and donkey carts ferrying water drums trot along dusty dirt roads.

From BBC

The two held captive were ferried to Uganda without their belongings, including their passports, which were later picked up by Besigye's party officials from the Nairobi hotel.

From BBC

Roger, along with fellow rebels Robert Monteith and Daniel Julian Bailey, was ferried back to the coastal waters off Ireland aboard a German u-boat.

From BBC

Cells copy the code of genes into pieces of RNA and these RNAs act as messengers that ferry the genetic codes to the ribosomes, which use it to create proteins.

From Science Daily

“The solution is a helicopter,” the presentation says, pointing to an on-site helipad where chartered flights could quickly ferry snow seekers up to the mountain.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• barge
• ferryboat