to tote

Dictionary of American Words And Phrases by John Russell Bartlett.

To carry. A queer word of unknown origin, much used in the Southern States. It has been--absurdly enough--derived from the Latin tollit.


The militia had everlastin' great long swords as much as they could tote.--Maj. Jones's Courtship, p. 39.

Here a boy was ferociously cutting wood--there one toting wood.--Carlton, The New Purchase, Vol. I. p. 167.

My gun here totes fifteen buckshot and a ball, and slings 'em to kill.--Chron. of Pineville, p. 169.

"Goodness gracious!" said old Miss Stallins; "white servants! Well, the Lord knows I wouldn't have none on 'em about me; I could never bear to see a white gall toatin my child about, and waitin' on me like a nigger; it would hurt my conscience."--Maj. Jones's Travels.

And its oh! she was so neat a maid,

That her stockings and her shoes

She toted in her lily white hands,

For to keep them from the dews.--Ohio Boatman's Song.

Tom was liberal [with his honey], and supplied us all with more than we wanted, and toted his share to his own home.--Thorpe's Backwoods.

The watchman arrested Mr. Wimple for disturbing the peace, and toted him off to the calaboose.--Pickings from the N. O. Pickayune, p. 120.

Related Words

  • Tote

    ·noun The entire body, or all; as, the whole tote. II. Tote ·vt To carry or bear; as, to tote a chi...

    Webster's Dictionary of the English Language

  • tote

    An abbreviation of total. ♦ To tote. To watch, to spy, or to carry, whence the very singular fish ...

    The Sailor's Word-Book

  • Provision made for the collection of weekly alms for the support of the Chapel of Our Lady near Guildhall founded "pur tote la compaignie du Pui" (ib.).

    Henry le Waleis gave to the Confraternity of the Pui (de Podio) 5 marks annual quit rent on all his ...

    A Dictionary of London by Henry A Harben.