carga

(Sp. model spelled same [kárga] < cargar < Vulgar Latin *car-ricare 'to carry' < Celto-Latin carrus 'cart or wagon')

   DARE: 1844.

   1) A cargo or load to be transported.

   2) A unit of weight that varied depending on the product or the way in which it was carried. Hoy notes that a carga carried by an Indian was equivalent to two arrobas (approximately fifty pounds), but one carried by a mule (a carga de mulas) was the same as eight arrobas (about three hundred pounds). The DRAE references carga as something that can be transported on one's shoulders, on one's back, by pack animal, or on any vehicle. The DRAE also indicates it can refer to a variable unit of weight for wood, fruit, grains, and other items. Santamaría also references carga as a variable unit of measurement, which may refer to two hectoliters (a measurement roughly equivalent to two-and-a-quarter dry gallons), two boxfuls, or the quantity that can be transported on the back of a pack animal. It is also used as a measurement for dry goods that is roughly equivalent to the weight of four hundred cocoa beans. Islas concurs, adding that another equivalent measure is that of ninety-six cuartillos (equal to two hectoliters).