Curious about where this usage came from. A new use for an old word. Anyone know?

Charette, charet- a wheeled vehicle; a war chariot. From Old French, been in English usage since c. 1400. So says Oxford English Dictionary.
Charrey (oy)- carriage, or transport vehicle for an army. In English since c. 1300s. A related word.

The evolution of the word to mean what is discussed here is logical, but who dunnit?

(Not in Webster's Collegiate, 10th edition, the latest I have).