A long, flat-bottomed boat used to carry heavy goods, usually on rivers and canals. Barges often move slowly and may be pushed or pulled by other boats.
It comes from Old French “barge,” from Late Latin “barga,” meaning boat. The deeper origin is uncertain but likely related to other old words for large boats.
The verb “to barge in” borrows the image of a big, heavy boat pushing its way forward without grace. So when someone barges into a room, the language paints them as a social cargo ship with no brakes.
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