Caboose

Pronunciation: /kəˈbus/

Definitions of caboose

noun a car at the rear of a freight train, used as an office or for accommodation for the train crew

Example Sentences

A1 The caboose is the last car on a train.

A2 The children played in the caboose during the train ride.

B1 The caboose was traditionally used as the conductor's office and living quarters.

B2 The caboose was painted red to make it easily visible from a distance.

C1 The caboose has become a symbol of the old days of rail travel.

C2 The restored caboose is now a museum exhibit showcasing the history of trains.

Examples of caboose in a Sentence

formal The conductor walked through the train, making sure all passengers were safely aboard before entering the caboose.

informal I love sitting in the caboose because you get the best view of the scenery as the train moves along.

slang Let's sneak into the caboose and have a little party while the rest of the passengers are distracted.

figurative In the business world, the CEO is often seen as the 'caboose' of the company, following the lead of the board of directors.

Grammatical Forms of caboose

• past tense: caboose
• plural: cabooses
• comparative: more caboose
• superlative: most caboose
• present tense: caboose
• future tense: will caboose
• perfect tense: have caboosed
• continuous tense: is caboosing
• singular: caboose
• positive degree: caboose
• infinitive: to caboose
• gerund: caboosing
• participle: caboosed

Origin and Evolution of caboose

First Known Use: 1706 year

Language of Origin: Dutch

Story behind the word: The word 'caboose' originated from the Dutch word 'kambuis' which means a ship's galley or kitchen.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the meaning of 'caboose' shifted from referring to a ship's kitchen to a separate car at the end of a train used as a crew's quarters or kitchen.