brake-van

American  

[breyk-van] / ˈbreɪkˌvæn /

noun

British.

1. the caboose of a railway train.

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brake van British  

noun

1. railways the coach or vehicle from which the guard applies the brakes; guard's van

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Etymology

Origin of brake-van

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

After forty-eight hours of semi-starvation in a brake-van, the name of the junction, in spite of the ill-natured tones which gave voice to it, sounded sweeter than the chimes of bells.

From On the Heels of De Wet by James, Lionel

He was about to take his seat again in the carriage when he observed a crowd on the platform opposite the brake-van at the rear end of the train.

From The Monkey That Would Not Kill by Wain, Louis

This eventually took the form of being driven to the nearest railway terminus, a short day's journey, and being deposited in a first-class carriage, with all their effects in the brake-van, carefully labelled.

From The Crooked Stick or Pollies's Probation by Boldrewood, Rolf

About Tell el-Kabír, the brake-van also waxed unsafely warm; but it reached Zagázig without developing more caloric.

From The Land of Midian — Volume 2 by Burton, Richard Francis, Sir

From Auckland the Prince went south on a train, every part of which, from the engine to the brake-van, had been built in New Zealand workshops.

From Down Under With the Prince by Duncan, Sara Jeannette