embarqué

Embarqué is the past participle of the French verb embarquer and is commonly used as an adjective meaning on board or onboarded. It can refer to people, cargo, or equipment that has been loaded onto a vehicle or platform, such as a ship, aircraft, or spacecraft. The feminine form is embarquée and the masculine plural is embarqués (also embarquées in feminine plural contexts).

Etymology: from Old French embarquer, itself from em- “into” plus barque “boat.” The term originated in nautical language and has since broadened to other contexts, including technology and everyday use.

Usage: In maritime and aviation contexts, embarqué describes those already on a vehicle: les passagers embarqués; l’équipage embarqué. The related noun embarquement designates the boarding process. In rail transport and military settings, equipment, troops, or vehicles can be described as embarqués when loaded aboard. In modern technology, the term is widely used to denote embedded systems and software: système embarqué, logiciel embarqué, équipement embarqué, referring to components integrated into a larger device rather than standalone systems.

Related terms: Embarquement (boarding), embarquer (to embark). The expression à bord is a common synonym in everyday usage, while embarqué remains prevalent in formal or technical contexts.

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