Truck

''Truck'' is used in [[American English]]; the [[British English]] equivalent is lorry.

''Truck'' is used in [[American English]]; the [[British English]] equivalent is lorry.

The first known usage of "truck" was in 1611 when it referred to the small strong wheels on ships' cannon carriages, and comes from "Trokhos" (Greek) = "wheel". In its extended usage, it came to refer to carts for carrying heavy loads, a meaning known since 1771. Its expanded application to "motor-powered load carrier" has been in usage since 1930, shortened from "motor truck", which dates back to 1901.<ref>[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/truck?show=2&t=1284721768 "Truck"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709060659/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/truck?show=2&t=1284721768 |date=9 July 2017 }}. ''Merriam-Webster Dictionary''.</ref><ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=truck&searchmode=none "Truck"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110529191522/http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=truck&searchmode=none |date=29 May 2011 }}. ''Online Etymology Dictionary''. 16 September 2010.</ref>

The first known usage of "truck" was in 1611 when it referred to the small strong wheels on ships' cannon carriages, and comes from Greek τροχός (''trokhos'') = "wheel". In its extended usage, it came to refer to carts for carrying heavy loads, a meaning known since 1771. Its expanded application to "motor-powered load carrier" has been in usage since 1930, shortened from "motor truck", which dates back to 1901.<ref>[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/truck?show=2&t=1284721768 "Truck"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709060659/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/truck?show=2&t=1284721768 |date=9 July 2017 }}. ''Merriam-Webster Dictionary''.</ref><ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=truck&searchmode=none "Truck"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110529191522/http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=truck&searchmode=none |date=29 May 2011 }}. ''Online Etymology Dictionary''. 16 September 2010.</ref>

"Lorry" has a more uncertain origin, but probably has its roots in the [[rail transport]] industry, where the word is known to have been used in 1838 to refer to a type of truck (a [[goods wagon]] as in British usage, not a [[bogie]] as in the American), specifically a large flat wagon. It might derive from the verb ''lurry'' (to carry or drag along, or to lug) which was in use as early as 1664, but that association is not definitive.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oed.com//view/Entry/111334|title=lurry, v.|date=September 2019|website=Oxford English Dictionary Online|publisher=Oxford University Press|access-date=1 December 2019}}</ref> The expanded meaning of ''lorry'', "self-propelled vehicle for carrying goods", has been in usage since 1911.<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=lorry&searchmode=none "Lorry"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020084528/http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=lorry&searchmode=none |date=20 October 2012 }} ''Online Etymology Dictionary'' 16 September 2010</ref><ref>[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lorry "Lorry"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100411012935/http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lorry |date=11 April 2010 }} Merriam-Webster Dictionary</ref>

"Lorry" has a more uncertain origin, but probably has its roots in the [[rail transport]] industry, where the word is known to have been used in 1838 to refer to a type of truck (a [[goods wagon]] as in British usage, not a [[bogie]] as in the American), specifically a large flat wagon. It might derive from the verb ''lurry'' (to carry or drag along, or to lug) which was in use as early as 1664, but that association is not definitive.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oed.com//view/Entry/111334|title=lurry, v.|date=September 2019|website=Oxford English Dictionary Online|publisher=Oxford University Press|access-date=1 December 2019}}</ref> The expanded meaning of ''lorry'', "self-propelled vehicle for carrying goods", has been in usage since 1911.<ref>[http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=lorry&searchmode=none "Lorry"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020084528/http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=lorry&searchmode=none |date=20 October 2012 }} ''Online Etymology Dictionary'' 16 September 2010</ref><ref>[http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lorry "Lorry"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100411012935/http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lorry |date=11 April 2010 }} Merriam-Webster Dictionary</ref>