| barge | 1. A pleasure boat; a vessel or boat of state, elegantly furnished and decorated. 2. A large, roomy boat for the conveyance of passengers or goods; as, a ship's barge; a charcoal barge. 3. A large boat used by flag officers. 4. A double-decked passenger or freight vessel, towed by a steamboat. 5. A large omnibus used for excursions. Origin: OF. Barge, F. Berge, fr. LL. Barca, for barica (not found), prob. Fr. L. Baris an Egyptian rowboat, fr. Gr, prob. Fr. Egyptian: cf. Coptic bari a boat. Cf. Bark a vessel. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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