A light box or container, typically made from cardboard or paperboard, used for packaging goods. Also refers to a container for liquids like milk or juice.
From French carton, derived from Italian cartone meaning 'pasteboard,' which comes from carta meaning 'paper' (from Latin charta). The word entered English in the 19th century as packaging became more standardized during industrialization.
The humble carton revolutionized food distribution - the first milk carton was patented in 1915, but it wasn't until the 1950s that the distinctive gabled-top design we know today became standard. These containers are engineering marvels, using minimal material to create maximum strength through their geometric design.
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