prairie schooner

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Word: Prairie Schooner

Definition: A prairie schooner is a large wagon that has broad wheels and an arched canvas top. It was used by pioneers in the United States during the 19th century to travel across the open, flat lands known as prairies.

Usage Instructions:

• Part of Speech: Noun
• How to Use: You can use "prairie schooner" when talking about American history, especially when discussing the westward expansion of settlers.

Example Sentence:

"The family packed all their belongings into a prairie schooner and set off on their journey to the west."

Advanced Usage:

In literature or historical discussions, you might use "prairie schooner" to symbolize adventure, exploration, or the challenges faced by early American settlers.

Word Variants:

• Prairie: Referring to a large area of flat land covered with grass.
• Schooner: A type of sailing ship, but in this context, it refers to the wagon style.

Different Meanings:

• While "prairie schooner" primarily refers to the wagon, "schooner" on its own often refers to a sailing vessel. The two words are not interchangeable.

Synonyms:

• Covered Wagon: Another term for a similar type of wagon used for travel.
• Conestoga Wagon: A type of covered wagon that was larger and used for transporting goods.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no direct idioms or phrasal verbs that specifically include "prairie schooner." However, you might use "hit the road" to indicate starting a journey, similar to what pioneers would do in their prairie schooners.

Summary:

In summary, a prairie schooner is a historical term for a specific type of wagon used by pioneers in America. It evokes images of adventure and exploration across the vast prairies.

Academic

Noun

1. a large wagon with broad wheels and an arched canvas top; used by the United States pioneers to cross the prairies in the 19th century

Synonyms

• covered wagon
• Conestoga wagon
• Conestoga
• prairie wagon