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

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

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.

From The Harmsworth Magazine, v. 1, 1898-1899, No. 2 by Various

"De Aar," and the Africander guard flung himself out of his brake-van.

From On the Heels of De Wet by James, Lionel

Fortunately there was a goods train immediately following the mail, and some four hours afterwards our big friend alighted from a goods brake-van in a furious temper.

From Here, There and Everywhere by Hamilton, Frederick Spencer, Lord