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Cart

Hand-carts pushed by humans have been used around the world. In the 19th century, for instance, some Mormons travelling across the plains of the USA between 1857 and 1865 used handcarts. Perhaps the most common example toady is the shopping cart, which has also come to have a metaphorical meaning in relation to online purchases.

Larger carts may be drawn by animals, such as horses, mules, or oxen. Carts may be named by what pulls them such as horsecarts or oxcarts. Such a cart can have the traditional alternative name of wain, for example a haywain, and the builders of such vehicles became known as "cartwrights" or "wainwrights". These terms survive as surnames of those descended from those practising these trades. Note too the surname "Carter".

Physically, carts have many different shapes, but the basic idea of transporting material (or maintaining a collection of materials in a portable fashion) remains. Carts usually have two or four wheels. Those with four wheels will often have a pivoting front axle.

A stroller, used to transport a sitting toddler, and perambulators, for transport of a lying baby, are also forms of cart.

The golf cart, used to save a golfer and their clubs the tiresome business of walking, is another well known modern type of cart.

The term "Kart", derived from "cart", refers to a small racing car - also known as a "Go-Kart".

In the radio industry, a "cart" refers either to an 8-Track cartridge which contains jingles or advertisements, or an equivalent numbered electronic audio file on a computer.

See also: carriage, chariot, sulky, wagon, wain, wheelbarrow.
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