char-à-banc

American  

[shar-uh-bang, -bangk, sha-ra-bahn] / ˈʃær əˌbæŋ, -ˌbæŋk, ʃa raˈbɑ̃ /

Or charabanc

noun

British.

char-à-bancs plural

1. a large bus used on sightseeing tours, especially one with open sides and no center aisle.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• char-à-bancs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of char-à-banc

1810–20; back formation from French char-à-bancs literally, car with benches, the -s being taken as plural ending of word as a whole

Example Sentences

She would often ride over on horseback or drive in the char-à-banc to see us, and would spend whole days with me and my father.

From The Darling and Other Stories by Garnett, Constance

Half an hour later, in a char-à-banc drawn by two sturdy little horses, we reached Brest, which we left with pleasure two days afterwards.

From Over Strand and Field by Flaubert, Gustave

Great was the excitement when at five o'clock a motor char-à-banc made its appearance.

From The Luckiest Girl in the School by Brazil, Angela

But there, comfortably and safely seated in the char-à-banc, was his bride—the sympathetic companion and sharer in his work of after years.

From Lord Kelvin An account of his scientific life and work by Gray, Andrew

Those are Jews,” continued he, pointing to a char-à-banc passing.

From Olla Podrida by Marryat, Frederick