center plate

American  

noun

Railroads.

1. one of a pair of plates that fit together and support the body of a car on a truck, while allowing the truck to rotate with respect to the body. One plate body center plate is attached to the underside of the car body and the other truck center plate is part of the car truck.

---

Etymology

Origin of center plate

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

But when letting the fruits of our garden take center stage — or center plate — I like to keep it light.

From Washington Post • Jul. 30, 2021

Towards the end of the century, Agnes B. Marshall wrote numerous cookbooks, including ones specifically about iced deserts, and this time the filled cone took center plate.

From Time • Apr. 12, 2016

Weight on center plate with car body loaded, about 27,000 lbs.

From The New York Subway Its Construction and Equipment by Anonymous

From this pattern, reproduced in iron for the sake of permanence, is cast the flat center plate you see.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 481, March 21, 1885 by Various

Height of truck center plate above rail, car body loaded with 15,000 pounds, 30 ins.

From The New York Subway Its Construction and Equipment by Anonymous