Airfreighter

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A specialized type of aircraft built primarily for cargo transport rather than passenger service
2. A specific kind of aircraft developed to move cargo instead of people
3. An airplane designed mainly to carry goods and freight instead of passengers

Etymology: "Airfreighter" is a plain compound: "air" joined to "freighter," an agent noun from "freight," the cargo carried by a ship, train, or aircraft. The first element tells you the mode of transport, and the second names the job the vehicle does. In practice it is the aircraft counterpart of a cargo ship, so the meaning follows directly from the parts. The word is useful mainly for distinguishing purpose-built cargo planes from passenger airliners that carry freight in their holds. Because "freighter" already meant a cargo vessel, adding "air" was a simple way to extend that nautical sense to aviation, rather than inventing a new term.

Synonyms: cargo plane, freighter