n.
- a horse-drawn open vehicle with two or four wheels, used for carrying loads.
▸a light two-wheeled open vehicle for driving in, pulled by a single horse.
- a shallow open container on wheels, pulled or pushed by hand.
▸N. Amer. a supermarket trolley.
v.
- convey or put in a cart or similar vehicle.
- informal carry (a heavy or cumbersome object) somewhere with difficulty.
▸convey or propel unceremoniously.
Phrase
- in the cart
Brit. informal in trouble or difficulty. - put the cart before the horse
reverse the proper order or procedure.
Derivative
- carter n.
- cartful n.
(pl. cartfuls)
. - cartload n.
Etymology
ME: from ON kartr, prob. influenced by Anglo-Norman Fr. and Old North. Fr. carete, dimin. of carre (see car).