Resembling, relating to, or characteristic of a cart; suitable for transport by cart, or informal slang meaning somewhat cantankerous or stubborn.
Derived from 'cart' (Old Norse 'kartr') plus the adjectival suffix '-y.' The word has informal English origins and likely developed in folk speech to describe things cart-like or people with cart-driver personalities.
The informal meaning of 'carty' as stubborn might come from the folklore about mules that pulled carts—they were known for being obstinate, so calling someone 'carty' was like comparing them to a stubborn cart animal.
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