Definition

Noun: A hansom cab is a specific type of two-wheeled, horse-drawn carriage for hire, notable for its design where the driver's seat is positioned high at the back, above and behind the enclosed passenger compartment.

Usage

The term hansom cab refers specifically to this historical vehicle. It is used as a countable noun. * In the 19th century, a hansom cab was a common sight on London streets. * The detective hailed a hansom cab to follow the suspect. * Traveling by hansom cab was faster than a four-wheeled carriage.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in historical fiction or accounts of the Victorian and Edwardian eras to evoke the period's atmosphere.
  • The novel's description of foggy London was complete with the sound of hansom cabs clattering over cobblestones.

Variants and Related Words

• Cab (n.): A shorter, more general term for a vehicle for hire, which evolved from "hansom cab" and "cabriolet" to describe modern taxis.
• Hansom (n.): A less common, shortened form of "hansom cab."
• Carriage (n.): A general term for a horse-drawn vehicle.

Synonyms

• Hackney carriage: A formal, historical term for a licensed vehicle for hire.
• Growler (n., British, historical): A colloquial term for a four-wheeled horse-drawn cab, contrasting with the two-wheeled hansom.

Notes on Meaning

• The hansom cab is distinguished from other carriages by its specific design: two wheels, a covered passenger box at the front, and an elevated rear seat for the driver who controlled the horse via reins going over the roof.

Noun

1. a two-wheeled horse-drawn covered carriage with the driver's seat above and behind the passengers