1530s, "act of transporting," noun of action from transport (v.). Middle English used verbal noun transporting (early 15c.). In the sense of "means of conveyance" it is first recorded 1853.
Entries linking to transportation
transport v.
late 14c., "convey from one place to another," from Old French transporter "carry or convey across; overwhelm (emotionally)" (14c.) or directly from Latin transportare "carry over, take across, convey, remove," from trans "beyond, across" (see trans-) + portare "to carry" (from PIE root *per- (2) "to lead, pass over"). Sense of "carry away with strong feelings" is first recorded c. 1500. Meaning "to carry away into banishment" is recorded from 1660s.