What does barge mean?
A barge is a large, flat-bottomed vessel designed to carry heavy cargo along rivers, canals, and sheltered coastal waters. Because it has no deep keel, it cannot handle open seas, but its broad, shallow hull allows it to transport enormous loads — coal, grain, timber, aggregates — through waterways too shallow for conventional ships. Barges are usually towed or pushed by tugboats, often several at a time, making them one of the most economical means of moving freight. The word also functions as a verb: to barge is to shove forward in a heavy, ungraceful manner, and 'to barge in' has become a familiar expression for interrupting or intruding without invitation. This figurative sense gives the word a mildly comic or disapproving tone in everyday speech. Related idioms such as 'wouldn't touch it with a barge pole' recall the long poles once used to steer and fend off vessels on narrow canals.
A large, flat-bottomed boat used for transporting goods on rivers, canals, and coastal waters.
"A convoy of barges carried iron ore upriver to the steelworks."
Often used attributively in compounds such as 'coal barge' or 'grain barge'.
To move forward by pushing heavily or rudely; to bump or force one's way.
"She barged through the crowded doorway without waiting."
Informal; frequently used in the phrase 'barge in', meaning to intrude abruptly.
Standard plural; used when referring to multiple vessels.
"Six barges were moored along the quay."
The phrase 'wouldn't touch it with a barge pole' survives from the days when boat crews used long poles to fend off — literally keep at arm's length — other barges.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of barge
The word 'barge' entered English in the Middle Ages, likely via Old French 'barge', which itself probably came from medieval Latin 'barga', a term for a small ship or boat. Its ultimate origins are debated, but it is related to words such as 'bark' (a type of sailing vessel) and to the verbs 'embark' and 'disembark', all tracing back to maritime vocabulary of the medieval Mediterranean and Latin world. Originally denoting any smallish ship's boat, the meaning narrowed over time to the flat-bottomed freight vessel we know today.
Related word forms
How barge is actually used
As a noun, 'barge' is neutral in register and common in both everyday and commercial contexts. The verb form is informal and often carries a negative connotation of rudeness or clumsiness, especially in the phrase 'barge in'.
Easily confused with barge
'Barge' is a flat-bottomed cargo vessel, while 'bulk' refers to goods carried loose in large quantities — though bulk cargo is often transported by barge.