An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1. The conveying of something or energy from one place or position to another.
   → charge-transfer device; → energy transfer; → heat transfer; → optical transfer function; → radiative transfer; → radiative transfer equation.
   

2a) To convey or pass from one place to another.

2b) To copy information or images from one place or object to another.

Etymology (EN): M.E. transferren (v.), from L. transferre “to carry over, transfer, translate,” from → trans- “across” + ferre “to carry;” cognate with Pers. bordan “to carry, transport;” Mid.Pers. burdan;
O.Pers./Av. bar- “to bear, carry,” barəθre “to bear (infinitive);” Skt. bharati “he carries;” Gk. pherein “to carry;” PIE base *bher- “to carry.”

Etymology (PE): Tarâvaž, from tarâ-, → trans- “across,” + važ, variant vâz (in parvâz), Av.
vaz- “to draw, guide; bring; possess; fly; float,” vazaiti “guides, leads”
(cf. Skt. vah- “to carry, drive, convey,” vahati “carries,”
pravaha- “bearing along, carrying,” pravāha- “running water, stream, river;” L. vehere “to carry;” O.E. wegan “to carry;” O.N. vegr; O.H.G. weg “way,” wegan “to move,” wagan “cart;” M.Du. wagen “wagon;” PIE base *wegh- “to drive;” see also → flight).