A skilled craftsperson who makes and repairs carts, wagons, and other wheeled vehicles. The term is also used as a surname.
From Middle English, combining 'cart' (from Old Norse 'kartr') and 'wright' (from Old English 'wyrhta' meaning worker or maker). The suffix '-wright' appears in many occupational surnames, indicating a maker or craftsperson of specific items.
The '-wright' ending connects cartwrights to a whole family of medieval craftspeople including shipwrights, wheelwrights, and even playwrights (play-makers). Interestingly, many modern surnames ending in '-wright' trace back to ancestors who actually practiced these trades centuries ago.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.