I. ˈbärj, ˈbȧj noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin barca
1. obsolete : a sailing vessel ; specifically : one next larger than the balinger : bark
2. : any of various boats: as
a. : a roomy usually flat-bottomed boat used principally in harbors or inland waterways though often sea-going for the transport of goods (as coal, oil, lumber, or grain) and sometimes passengers and usually propelled by towing
b. : a large boat formerly a double-banked rowboat but now a powerboat supplied to a naval flagship for the use of a flag officer
c. : a roomy pleasure boat ; especially : a boat of state elegantly furnished and decorated
d. : a racing boat somewhat broader and heavier than a shell and often used for practice purposes
e. : a towed or self-propelled boat used to transport freight cars over or across water routes not provided with bridges
3. : keel II 1b
4. : a tub or box for bread for the crew's mess on a ship
5. chiefly New England : a large horse-drawn omnibus usually used for excursions or the transportation of groups (as from a railroad station to a hotel)
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
: to carry by barge
ore will be barged down the Orinoco — Newsweek
have already barged out the virgin forests in the form of lumber — Sat. Eve. Post
intransitive verb
1. : to move or charge in a lumbering, ponderous, or clumsy manner
he was a particularly cheeky saurian and soon came barging along to inspect us — Francis Birtles
or in a headlong, impetuous, heedless, or aimless fashion
a bat flew in the front door, barged around for 20 minutes until finally knocked down — Time
2. : to thrust oneself unceremoniously (as into a place where one is unwanted) — used with in or into
barge in on some friends while they are eating dinner
III. ˈbarj, ˈbȧj transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: English dialect (Ireland), barge shrewish woman, from Irish Gaelic bāirseach
dialect Britain : scold , rebuke
she could have barged me all night telling me I was a cur and a coward — D'Arcy Niland