brake-van

[ breyk-van ]

/ ˈbreɪkˌvæn /

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noun British.

the caboose of a railway train.

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In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

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Origin of brake-van

First recorded in 1880–85

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use brake-van in a sentence

It is composed of ten trucks and vans, and has besides a guard's brake-van fitted with a screw-down brake of the usual sort.
The Harmsworth Magazine, v. 1, 1898-1899, No. 2|Various
He swung a swag on to the platform, shouldered it, pulled out a billy and water-bag, and then went to a dog-box in the brake van.
While the Billy Boils|Henry Lawson
He shall take care that the breakdown tackle is always kept ready on the brake van in case of emergency.
Minimum Gauge Railways|Arthur Heywood
He shall take care to run no train without a brake-van at the rear end, and a brakesman in attendance.
Minimum Gauge Railways|Arthur Heywood

"De Aar," and the Africander guard flung himself out of his brake-van.
On the Heels of De Wet|The Intelligence Officer

British Dictionary definitions for brake-van

brake van

noun

railways, British the coach or vehicle from which the guard applies the brakes; guard's van

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012