Definition

Noun: A ferry specifically designed and used for transporting motor vehicles (such as cars, trucks, and vans) across a body of water.

Usage

This is a compound noun. It refers to the type of ferry service or the vessel itself whose primary function is to carry automobiles and other road vehicles from one shore to another. It is commonly used in the context of travel, transportation, and logistics.

Examples

• The car-ferry from Dover to Calais departs every hour.
• We drove our vehicle onto the car-ferry to cross the channel.
• The island is accessible only by car-ferry.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in official schedules, travel itineraries, and transportation networks to distinguish this service from passenger-only ferries or other types of vessels.
• It can be part of a longer noun phrase, e.g., "car-ferry terminal," "car-ferry operator," "car-ferry route."

Variants and Related Words

• Ferry (noun): A more general term for a boat or ship used to carry passengers, and often vehicles, across a body of water. A is a specific type of .
• Ro-ro ferry (noun): Short for "roll-on/roll-off ferry," a technical term often synonymous with , emphasizing the method by which vehicles drive on and off the vessel.
• Vehicle ferry (noun): A near-synonym for , though it may also imply the capacity to carry larger vehicles like trucks and buses.

Synonyms

• Auto ferry
• Vehicle ferry

Notes

• The word is typically hyphenated () but can sometimes be seen as a single word () or as two separate words (), with the hyphenated or closed form being common in formal and compound usage.
• It is a specific term within the broader category of maritime transport.

Noun

1. a ferry that transports motor vehicles