demurrage

D2E1M3U1R1R1A1G2E1

noun

the detention of a ship or other freight vehicle, during delayed loading or unloading

Opposite
despatch
OriginOld French demorage ← Latin dēmorārī →
UncommonScrabble 13
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Meanings

noundemurrage (countable and uncountable, plural demurrages)

plural demurrages

  1. countableuncountableeconomicsthe detention of a ship or other freight vehicle, during delayed loading or unloading
  2. countableuncountablecompensation paid for such detention
  3. countableuncountablea charge made for exchanging currency for bullion
  4. countableuncountablethe cost associated with owning or holding currency over a given period
  5. countableuncountablea type of currency which requires paying a fee to store money; a type of currency that discourages using money as a store of value

Synonyms & antonyms

antonym(s) of “detention of a ship, or fee paid for it”

Opposite
despatch

Origin

  1. Latindēmorārī“to tarry”
  2. Old Frenchdemorage
  3. Englishdemurrage

1640s, from Old French demorage, from demorer (English demur), from Latin dēmorārī (“to tarry”). By surface analysis, demur (“delay”) + -age, with doubled ‘r’ to clarify pronunciation and avoid ambiguity with demure.

More words from Old French, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French surestarie, surestarie
  • surestariedetention of a freight vehicle during delayed loading or unloading
  • surestariecompensation paid for such detention
German Demurrage, Demurrage
  • Demurragedetention of a freight vehicle during delayed loading or unloading
  • Demurragecompensation paid for such detention
Italian controstallia
  • controstalliadetention of a freight vehicle during delayed loading or unloading
Polish przestój, przestojowe
  • przestójdetention of a freight vehicle during delayed loading or unloading
  • przestojowecompensation paid for such detention
Russian де́мередж, де́мередж
  • де́мередж (dɛ́meredž)detention of a freight vehicle during delayed loading or unloading
  • де́мередж (dɛ́meredž)compensation paid for such detention
Cite this entry
APA

demurrage. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/demurrage

MLA

“demurrage.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/demurrage. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “demurrage,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/demurrage.

Source: demurrage on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.