ferry
UK: ˈferi | US: ˈferi
n. a boat or ship used to transport passengers, vehicles, or goods across a body of water
vt. to transport (people or goods) by boat or ship across a body of water
The word "ferry" traces back to Old English ferian ("to carry, convey"), derived from Proto-Germanic farjaną ("to ferry, sail"). The root ferr- is linked to the broader Indo-European root per- ("to lead, pass over"), which also appears in words like "fare" (payment for transport) and "port" (a place for ships). Over time, "ferry" specialized to mean the vessel or act of transporting across water, reflecting its practical role in travel and trade.
We took the ferry to cross the river.
The island is accessible only by ferry.
The captain ferries tourists to the lighthouse daily.
A small ferry shuttles between the two coastal towns.
They ferried supplies to the disaster-stricken area.