Bulk Came From a Word for a Ship's Cargo
Bulk is great size or the main part of something. The word entered English from Norse shipping.
Bulk is large size or mass, and also the greater part of something. It comes from Old Norse *bulki*, a ship's cargo, which is why the shipping term *break bulk* means to begin unloading, and *bulk carrier* names a ship for loose unpackaged cargo. The general sense of largeness grew from the size of a cargo hold. *The bulk of* meaning the majority is a separate development from the same idea of the greater mass.
- Great size. *Sheer bulk.*
- The greater part. *The bulk of the work.*
- In bulk — in large quantity. *Buy in bulk.*
- Bulk carrier — a cargo ship. *A bulk carrier.*
- Old Norse — *bulki*, cargo. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | bulk | The bulk. |
| Verb | bulk | Bulked. |
| Adjective | bulky | Bulky. |
| Compound | bulkhead | A bulkhead. |
| Old Norse | bulki | Cargo. |
- The bulk of the crops survived.Majority.
- Buying in bulk is cheaper.Quantity.
- The word meant a ship's cargo.Etymology.
Shipping terms that entered ordinary English
- Bulk — a ship's cargo, now any large mass
- Cargo — from Spanish, a load
- Freight — from Dutch, a shipload
- Bulkhead — a partition in a hull
- Break bulk — to start unloading, now a shipping category
Old Norse *bulki*, a ship's cargo or heap, influenced by Middle English *bouk*, meaning belly or trunk.
What is a bulk carrier?
A ship built to carry loose unpackaged cargo such as grain, coal or ore, poured directly into the hold.
Why does bulk mean the majority?
From the idea of the greater mass of something. The larger portion is its bulk.