BARGE (Med.

See also:

• LAT

Lat.

See also:

• BARCA (mod. Merj)

barca, possibly connected with Lat. baris, Gr. flaps, a

See also:

• BOAT (0. Eng. bdt; the true etymological connexion with Dutch and Ger. boot, Fr. bateau, Ital. battello presents great difficulties; Celtic forms are from O. Eng.)

boat used on the

See also:

• NILE
• NILE, BATTLE OF THE
• NILE, SOBAT

Nile)  , formerly a small sailing vessel, but now generally a flat-bottomed boat used for carrying goods on inland navigations . On canals 'barges are usually towed, but are sometimes fitted with some kind of engine; the men in charge of them are known as bargees . On tidal rivers barges are often provided with masts and sails (" sailing barges "), or in default of being towed, they drift with the current, guided by a long oar or oars (" dumb-barges ") . Barges used for unloading, or loading, the cargo of ships in harbours are sometimes called " lighters " (from the verb " to light to relieve of a load) . A state barge was a heavy, often highly ornamented vessel used for carrying passengers on occasions of state ceremonials . The college barges at Oxford are houseboats moored in the river for the use of members of the college rowing clubs . In New England the word barge frequently means a vehicle, usually covered, with seats down the side, used for picnic parties or the conveyance of passengers to or from piers or railway stations .