general cargo

noun

Goods that are stowed in a ship in individually counted units and recorded on different bills of lading, and distinct from bulk cargo or cargo in containers; now largely superseded by containerisation of goods.

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Meanings

noungeneral cargo (countable and uncountable, plural general cargoes or general cargos)

plural general cargoes · plural general cargos

  1. countableuncountableeconomicsGoods that are stowed in a ship in individually counted units and recorded on different bills of lading, and distinct from bulk cargo or cargo in containers; now largely superseded by containerisation of goods.
    1 more example

    So far as general cargo is concerned, the quay equipment has to be decided in the light of the kind of cargo to be dealt with. […] Almost all modern cranes are electrically operated and a quick-acting type of 30 cwt. capacity is suitable for general cargo, but not powerful enough to operate grabs for discharge of bulk cargoes.

    1945 January and February, T. F. Cameron, “Dock Working”, in Railway Magazine, page 11
Cite this entry
APA

general cargo. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/general%20cargo

MLA

“general cargo.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/general%20cargo. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “general cargo,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/general%20cargo.

Source: general cargo on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.