Where does the word cargo come from?

The word "cargo" comes from the Italian word "carico", which means "load" or "burden". It was first used in English in the 16th century to refer to the goods carried by a ship.

The Italian word "carico" itself is derived from the Latin word "carrus", which means "cart" or "wagon". This makes sense, as cargo is essentially the "load" that is transported by a vehicle, be it a ship, truck, plane, or even a cart.