Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary · 1913

Car

Car , noun

[Old French car, char, French cahr, from Latin carrus, Wagon: a Celtic word; compare Welsh car, Armor. karr, Ir. & Gael. carr. compare Chariot.]

1.
A small vehicle moved on wheels; usually, one having but two wheels and drawn by one horse; a cart.
2.
A vehicle adapted to the rails of a railroad. [United States]

In England a railroad passenger car is called a railway carriage; a freight car a goods wagon; a platform car a goods truck; a baggage car a van. But styles of car introduced into England from America are called cars; as, tram car. Pullman car. See Train.

3.
A chariot of war or of triumph; a vehicle of splendor, dignity, or solemnity. [Poetic]
The gilded car of day. — Milton
The towering car, the sable steeds. — Tennyson
4.
(Astronomy) The stars also called Charles's Wain, the Great Bear, or the Dipper.
The Pleiads, Hyads, and the Northern Car. — Dryden
5.
The cage of a lift or elevator.
6.
The basket, box, or cage suspended from a balloon to contain passengers, ballast, etc.
7.
A floating perforated box for living fish. [United States]
Collocations (6)
Car coupling or Car coupler , a shackle or other device for connecting the cars in a railway train. [United States]
Dummy car (Railroad) , a car containing its own steam power or locomotive.
Freight car (Railrood) , a car for the transportation of merchandise or other goods. [United States]
Hand car (Railroad) , a small car propelled by hand, used by railroad laborers, etc. [United States]
Horse car or Street car , an omnibus car, draw by horses or other power upon rails laid in the streets. [United States]
Palace car or Drawing-room car or Sleeping car or Parlor car (Railroad) , cars especially designed and furnished for the comfort of travelers.