dray

1 of 2

noun

: a vehicle used to haul goods
especially : a strong cart or wagon without sides

dray

2 of 2

verb

drayed; draying; drays

transitive verb

: to haul on a dray : cart

Examples of dray in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The situation is especially fraught for the nation’s 75,000 dray operators and other foot soldiers of the supply chain. Peter S. Goodman, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2022 While bikes are permitted, the most efficient way to deliver packages are through dray wagon horse carriages. Dixita Limbachia, Detroit Free Press, 13 Aug. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English draye, a wheelless vehicle; akin to Old English dræge dragnet, dragan to pull — more at draw

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1810, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of dray was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near dray

Cite this Entry

“Dray.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dray. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

dray

noun
ˈdrā
: a strong low cart or wagon without sides for hauling heavy loads

More from Merriam-Webster on dray

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!