I. ˈkärt, ˈkȧt, usu -d.+V noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English carte, cart, probably from Old Norse kartr; akin to Old English cræt cart, Old High German kranz wreath, Lithuanian grandis hoop, Old English cradol cradle — more at cradle
1. obsolete : chariot
2. : a heavy 2-wheeled vehicle without springs used for the ordinary purposes of farming or for transporting freight — compare wagon
3. : any lightweight 2-wheeled vehicle drawn by a horse, pony, or dog: as
a. : a light vehicle for delivery (as by bakers or butchers)
b. : an open 2-wheeled pleasure carriage
c. : sulky
4. : any small wheeled vehicle (as for groceries, golf clubs, or tea service)
•
- cart before the horse
- in the cart
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English carten, from cart, n.
transitive verb
1. : to carry or convey in or as if in a cart
buses to cart the kids to and from school — L.S.Gannett
specifically archaic : to carry publicly in or drag behind a cart as a punishment
suspected, tried, condemned and carted in a day — George Crabbe
2. : to take or drag (a person) away without ceremony or by force — usually used with off
they carted him off to jail
intransitive verb
: to drive a cart especially in transporting freight : follow the business of a carter