caboose

English

Historic caboose on display in O'Fallon, Illinois

Alternative forms

Etymology

From French cambuse, from Middle Dutch kabuys, kabuis (Modern Dutch kombuis (galley; kitchen)).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /kəˈbuːs/
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -uːs

Noun

caboose (plural cabooses)

  1. (obsolete, nautical) A small galley or cookhouse on the deck of a small vessel.
  2. (US, rail transport) The last car on a freight train, having cooking and sleeping facilities for the crew; a guard’s van.
  3. (slang, baby-talk or euphemistic) buttocks
  4. (slang, sports) The person or team in last place.

Synonyms

Translations

This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.