The word "freight" refers to goods or cargo that are transported, typically by truck, train, ship, or airplane. It encompasses the items that are being moved for commercial purposes, as well as the act of shipping these items from one location to another. Freight can include a wide variety of items, ranging from raw materials to finished products.
The word "freight" originates from the Middle English "freit," which comes from the Old French "fret," meaning "to carry," and is believed to have roots in the Latin word "fractare," meaning "to break" or "to shatter" (in the context of breaking bulk). It evolved to refer to the transportation of goods.