What does carting mean?
Carting refers to the act of transporting goods from one place to another using a cart, truck, or similar wheeled vehicle. It functions both as a noun, naming the activity or trade of haulage — as in waste carting or cartage services — and as the present participle of the verb 'cart', meaning to carry or convey something, often implying bulk or effort. In everyday speech, phrases such as 'carting off' or 'carting away' are common and can carry a slightly dismissive tone, suggesting that something unwanted or cumbersome is being removed. The word has historical weight: before motorised transport, carting was essential to trade, construction, and city life, performed by horse-drawn carts. Though largely superseded by terms like 'hauling' in American usage, it remains current in British English and in commercial contexts such as refuse collection and freight handling.
The action or occupation of transporting goods by cart or other vehicle.
"Carting was once a thriving trade in every market town."
The trade sense is somewhat dated; modern commercial use appears chiefly in contexts like waste carting.
Present participle of 'cart': to carry or transport something, often something heavy or unwanted.
"They were carting boxes up to the attic all afternoon."
Before trucks existed, entire cities ran on carting — the word survives today whenever something bulky needs hauling off.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of carting
Carting derives from 'cart', a word of Old Norse origin ('kartr'), adopted into Middle English around the thirteenth century. The verb 'to cart', meaning to convey by cart, developed from the noun, and 'carting' arose as its present participle and verbal noun. It shares its Germanic roots with related words such as 'cartage' and 'carter'.
Related word forms
How carting is actually used
Often used in informal contexts, frequently with particles as in 'carting off' or 'carting away', which can imply removing something unwanted or with little ceremony. The noun sense referring to a trade is now somewhat dated but persists in commercial contexts such as waste removal.
Easily confused with carting
'Carding' refers to combing and cleaning fibres like wool or cotton (or to credit-card fraud slang), whereas 'carting' means transporting goods in a cart or vehicle.