The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Tote \Tote\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Toted; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Toting.] [Said to be of African origin.]
   To carry or bear; as, to tote a child over a stream; to tote
   a gun on one's hip; -- a colloquial word originating in the
   Southern States, and used there esp. by negroes, now common
   throughout the U. S.
   [1913 Webster +PJC]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Tote \Tote\, n. [L. totum, fr. totus all, whole.]
   The entire body, or all; as, the whole tote. [Colloq.]
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

tote
    n 1: a capacious bag or basket [syn: carryall, holdall,
         tote, tote bag]
    v 1: carry with difficulty; "You'll have to lug this suitcase"
         [syn: lug, tote, tug]