c.1300, "small seagoing vessel with sails," from O.Fr. barge, O.Prov. barca, from M.L. barga, from L. *barica, from Gk. baris "Egyptian boat," from Coptic bari "small boat." Meaning "flat-bottomed freight boat" dates from late 15c. The verb form barge into dates from 1830s, Amer.Eng.