Talk:-load

RFD discussion: June 2020–July 2021
I doubt that this is a genuine suffix. And Category:English words suffixed with -load has a small population. DonnanZ (talk) 22:42, 10 June 2020 (UTC)
 * The paucity of entries in that category is explained by most potential entries being analyzed using compound rather than suffix, such as, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and . Perhaps an argument can be made that -load is not a genuine suffix, but I think the size of the current population is not a strong one. --Lambiam 12:29, 11 June 2020 (UTC)
 * Derived terms for are a bit of a mess at present, there are two sections for nouns, including Category:English words derived from: load (noun) which is somewhat non-standard (like this "suffix"). Some terms appear both as suffixes and normal derived terms. being listed twice. Not all terms are single-word compounds either, like  and . We need some consistency. DonnanZ (talk) 16:32, 11 June 2020 (UTC)
 * I have put the two noun sections under one heading, but there's still some work to do. DonnanZ (talk) 16:57, 11 June 2020 (UTC)
 * In axle load, the meaning is “load on the axle”; this is a standard compound noun, used in such contexts as “the axle load should not exceed 10,000 kgf”. In the cases where the first component is a container, the meaning is ”the amount that fits in such a container”, and the typical use is “a load of ...”. In this use, -load is a synonym of -ful. --Lambiam 15:24, 12 June 2020 (UTC)
 * Your comparison of compounds with those using the genuine suffix  fails to take into account that -ful can't be used on its own, unlike load; for example  - "a vanful of merchandise" can only be split as "a van full of merchandise". Whereas a word like  is a  in a, whether it is a motorcar or a railroad car. But there are other terms like , which I know you edited, doesn't mean "a load of shit", but must still derive from . DonnanZ (talk) 16:41, 12 June 2020 (UTC)
 * Not all words ending on -load can be analyzed the same way, but there is a clear commonality among those in which the first component is a container. This appears to be somewhat productive. For example, although Wiktionary does not have an entry for, this term can, non-surprisingly, be attested: , , . The meaning of such compounds is also predictable; if you know the meaning of , you know what is meant here by the term urnload. Productivity plus a fixed meaning are IMO enough to establish suffix status. --Lambiam 11:40, 13 June 2020 (UTC)
 * The only dictionary evidence I have found to support your theory is in Cambridge, which is not overwhelming support for a suffix, and hardly enough. No suffix is recognised by Oxford. In fact Oxford prefers to create two words: ‘Approximately 120 bags and 10 trailer loads of rubbish were collected and removed by Waterford Co Council.’, ‘The biotechnology company has, through a number of well-timed share placements, bucket loads of money.’ and more. So Cambridge's support for a suffix should probably be ignored. DonnanZ (talk) 14:06, 13 June 2020 (UTC)
 * The Oxford usage examples appear at load, they also have bucketload and many more compounds of load, but no entry for trailerload. DonnanZ (talk) 14:32, 13 June 2020 (UTC)


 * Delete: I see no evidence that this is a suffix rather than a compound element load, I see no books referring to a or the or to the use of . Whereas, the ability to split the compounds ("a car load", etc) suggests they are indeed compounds with load, not uses of a suffix. - -sche (discuss) 19:44, 26 June 2020 (UTC)


 * Keep. Mark as colloquial. - Dentonius (my politics | talk) 16:16, 4 October 2020 (UTC)
 * Delete. —Μετάknowledge discuss/deeds 06:13, 12 October 2020 (UTC)
 * Delete. A suffix is, by definition, a bound rather than a free morpheme. Clearly that doesn't apply to load. Not sure if I'm missing something more subtle here. Colin M (talk) 22:37, 28 April 2021 (UTC)
 * Delete per sche. DAVilla 01:03, 8 May 2021 (UTC)

Deleted. bd2412 T 21:53, 14 July 2021 (UTC)