caboose
/kəˈbuːs/ noun
Forms cabooses cabeese caboosen camboose cambouse
- noun (obsolete, nautical) A small galley or cookhouse on the deck of a small vessel.
- noun (historical, nautical) A small sand-filled container used as an oven on board ship.
- noun (US, rail transport) The last car on a freight train, consisting of cooking and sleeping facilities for the crew; a guard’s van.
- noun (slang, childish, euphemistic) The buttocks.
- noun (slang, sports) The person or team in last place.
- noun (informal, often in combination) A youngest child who is born after a long gap in time.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Dutch kabuis, kombuis (“galley, kitchen”) or German Low German Kabüüs (“galley”), from Middle Dutch cabûse and Middle Low German kabûs, kabûse respectively.
Cognate with German Kabüse, Kombüse, Danish kabys, Swedish kabyss, French combuse (< Middle Dutch kabuys). Probably related to English boose (“a stall or shed”).
Webster’s 1913
- noun A house on deck, where the cooking is done; --commonly called the galley.
- noun A car used on freight or construction trains for brakemen, workmen, etc.; a tool car. [U. S.]
Etymology [Cf. D. kabuis, kombuis, Dan. kabys, Sw. kabysa, G. kabuse a little room or hut. The First part of the word seems to be allied to W. cab cabin, booth. Cf. Cabin.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “caboose”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details