charabanc

charabanc
charabanc or char-à-banc [shar′ə baŋ΄]
n.
Fr char-à-banc, lit., car with bench
Brit. a sightseeing bus

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char·a·banc (shărʹə-băng') n. Chiefly British
A large bus, typically used for sightseeing.
  [From French char à bancs: char, coach, carriage (from Old French, cart. See chariot) + à, with (from Latin ad, toward. See ad-) + bancs, benches, pl. of banc(from Old French. See bank3).]

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 (from French char à bancs: “wagon with benches”), long, four-wheeled carriage with several rows of forward-facing seats, originated in France in the early 19th century. It was pulled by up to six horses and was used by private owners to convey guests on excursions. It was soon adopted in England, where two horses were used. As afterward modified in England for public transport, it was entered from the rear and had five or more rows of seats. Today sight-seeing motor coaches in Great Britain are sometimes called charabancs.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • charabanc — (n.) British for sightseeing bus, early 19c., from Fr. char à bancs, lit. benched carriage, from char wagon, from L. carrus (see CAR (Cf. car)) + banc bench (see BENCH (Cf. bench) (n.)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • charabanc — ► NOUN Brit. ▪ an early form of bus. ORIGIN French char à bancs carriage with benches …   English terms dictionary

  • charabanc — or char à banc [shar′ə baŋ΄] n. [Fr char à banc, lit., car with bench] Brit. a sightseeing bus …   English World dictionary

  • Charabanc — A horse drawn charabanc at Windsor Castle in 1844 …   Wikipedia

  • charabanc — UK [ˈʃærəbæŋ] / US [ˈʃerəˌbæŋ] noun [countable] Word forms charabanc : singular charabanc plural charabancs British a type of bus used in the past for taking people on journeys for enjoyment …   English dictionary

  • charabanc — noun /ˈʃæ.ɹə.bæŋ(k)/ A horse drawn, and then later, motorized omnibus with open sides, and often, no roof. The cumbersome though finely painted charabanc of the late James style is pulled swaying along by a frisky pony of a plot farcical and… …   Wiktionary

  • charabanc — [[t]ʃæ̱rəbæŋ[/t]] charabancs N COUNT A charabanc is a large old fashioned coach with several rows of seats. Charabancs were used especially for taking people on trips or on holiday. [BRIT] …   English dictionary

  • charabanc —   n.m.   ?    Sur mon tabouret là en fosse ou dans le charabanc cadenassé, hanté par les remords de rien... F1, 83 …   Dictionnaire Céline

  • charabanc — noun Etymology: French char à bancs, literally, wagon with benches Date: 1914 British a sight seeing motor coach …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • Charabanc — Bænkevogn …   Danske encyklopædi

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