ferry vs packet-boat

ferry

noun
  • A place where passengers are transported across water in such a ship. 

  • The legal right or franchise that entitles a corporate body or an individual to operate such a service. 

  • A ship used to transport people, smaller vehicles and goods from one port to another, usually on a regular schedule. 

verb
  • To move someone or something from one place to another, usually repeatedly. 

  • To pass over water in a boat or by ferry. 

  • To carry; transport; convey. 

  • To carry or transport over a contracted body of water, as a river or strait, in a boat or other floating conveyance plying between opposite shores. 

packet-boat

noun
  • Passenger boat. 

  • River or canal boat that carries mail. 

  • Government-commissioned mail ship. 

How often have the words ferry and packet-boat occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )