wagon English · revision 15272

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=before 1475|origins=ine-pro *weǵʰ-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈwæɡən/; /ˈweɪɡən/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|dum|wagen|t=wagon, cart]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) from [[gem-pro|*wagnaz]],^(Etymonline) which also gave [[ang|wæġn]], the source of [[wain]], [[non|vagn]], [[goh|wagan]] and [[de|Wagen]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from [[ine-pro|*woǵʰ-no-]], from the root [[m|ine-pro|*weǵʰ-|t=to go, transport in a vehicle]], also the source of [[la|vehiculum]].^(Etymonline) It is thus related to [[way]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A four-wheeled vehicle for carrying heavy loads: before 1475 in Barnhart (waggin),^(Barnhart 1988) the late 15th century in Etymonline and the New Oxford;^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998) the OED's first quotation is from 1523.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The word came in through contact with the Low Countries, by Flemish immigration, Dutch trade or the Continental wars, and largely displaced the native cognate [[wain]].^(Etymonline) The spelling varied between ''-g-'' and ''-gg-'' until American English settled on ''wagon'', while ''waggon'' stayed common in Britain.^(Etymonline) From the 16th century it also meant a carriage for people, and a war chariot;^(OED 1989) the constellation Charles's Wain was called the Wagon from about 1511.^(OED 1989) A wagon train is from 1810.^(Etymonline) ''On the wagon'', abstaining from alcohol, is attested by 1904, originally ''on the water cart''.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * before 1475 – waggin, a four-wheeled cart.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1511 – the Wagon, Charles's Wain.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1615 – a covered vehicle carrying goods and passengers.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1810 – wagon train.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1904 – on the wagon.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A four-wheeled vehicle, usually drawn by horses or a [[tractor]], for carrying heavy loads.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(British)'' A railway [[freight]] truck, especially an open one.^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(US)'' A child's low four-wheeled cart pulled by a handle.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A [[station wagon]], or a light delivery vehicle.^(AHD)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To carry or travel by wagon.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[wagonless]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[wain]]

+ * [[way]]

+ * [[vehicle]]

+ * [[convey]]

+ * [[weigh]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ ''Waggon'' is the usual British variant spelling;^(Etymonline)^(Collins 2023) American English uses ''wagon''.^(Etymonline)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}