Why are lorries called trucks in America?

looney_tunes

"The word truck might have come from a back-formation of truckle with the meaning small wheel, pulley, from Middle English trokell, in turn from Latin trochlea. Another explanation is that it comes from Latin trochus with the meaning of iron hoop. In turn, both go back to Greek trokhos with the meaning wheel, from trekhein that meant "to run". The first known usage of "truck" was in 1611 when it referred to the small, strong wheels on ships' cannon carriages. In its extended usage it came to refer to carts for carrying heavy loads, a meaning known since 1771. With the meaning of motor-powered load carrier, it has been in usage since 1930, shortened from motor truck who dates back to 1916." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truck Mar 05 11, 1:45 AM

Zbeckabee

truck (n.) "vehicle," 1610s, "small wheel" (especially one on which the carriages of a ship's guns were mounted), probably from L. trochus "iron hoop," from Gk. trokhos "wheel," from trekhein "to run" (see truckle (n.)). Sense extended to "cart for carrying heavy loads" (1774), then to "motor vehicle for carrying heavy loads" (1930), a shortened form of motor truck (1916). The verb, meaning "to convey on a truck," is recorded from 1809, from the noun. Verbal meaning "dance, move in a cool way," first attested 1935, from popular dance of that name in U.S., supposedly introduced at Cotton Club, 1933. Trucker is first attested 1853, "worker who moves loads using a cart;" the motorized version is from 1955, a shortening of truck driver (pre-1931). Truck stop is attested from 1961. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=truck&searchmode=none Mar 06 11, 9:35 AM