Plural of barge; flat-bottomed boats used to transport heavy cargo on rivers and canals.
From Old French 'barge,' of obscure origin, possibly from Sanskrit 'bhāraṇa' (bearing/carrying). The word came through Mediterranean trade languages.
Before railroads, barges were the internet of freight—they moved the bulk of goods across regions cheaply. A single barge can carry as much as several trucks, which is why they're still used today.
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