Buzz
Just like different dialects, British and American English have numerous vocabulary differences. Occasionally, a word may have a completely different meaning in the U.S. compared to the UK, such as biscuit and jumper. Additionally, some terms are exclusive to one dialect, like the word lorry, which is uniquely British.
Defining a Lorry
In British English, a lorry refers to a large vehicle designed to transport heavy loads—what Americans might call a semi, 18-wheeler, tractor-trailer, or simply a truck. As noted by the UK trucking blog Fleet Speak, some argue that a lorry must have a separate cab and cargo unit, though this distinction isn’t always observed in everyday language.
What Is the Origin of the Word Lorry?
The exact origin of the term lorry remains unclear. However, the most widely accepted theory, as per the Oxford English Dictionary, suggests it’s linked to the 17th-century verb lurry, meaning “to haul or pull.” This connection is reinforced by early 19th-century instances where lorry was occasionally spelled as lurry.
If lorries (or lurries) predate automobiles, what did they refer to? The OED explains that the term initially described “a long, flat wagon with no sides, mounted on four low wheels.” By the early 1900s, with the advent of motorized vehicles, lorry came to denote a large vehicle designed for transporting goods.
