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

See Examples For:

char-à-banc char-à-bancs

"You were lucky to be able to go all the way by char-à-banc," commented Mrs. Cameron.

From The Jolliest School of All by Angela Brazil

But I find that my good Jacques has taken on the char-à-banc a league or two beyond Noireau, and I am compelled to await his return.

From The Doctor's Dilemma by Hesba Stretton

A char-à-banc will be at the door at half-past ten to-morrow, good people.

From Sisters Three by Stanley Lloyd

It was Joule with a long thermometer in his hand, which he would not trust by itself in the char-à-banc, coming slowly up the hill behind him, lest it should get broken.

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

"There was something else—I should not speak of it—" They were standing in the shadow of the char-à-banc.

From The Californians by Gertrude Franklin Horn Atherton

The last meet of the season was, as always, at Folkington Green, close enough to Lewes to draw the townsfolk out on bicycles and in char-à-bancs.

From Boy Woodburn A Story of the Sussex Downs by Alfred Ollivant

A Norman peasant in a black blouse driving, probably, a char-à-bancs to sell my fruit—or my corn.

From The Halo by B. Martin Justice

When he re-entered the ball-room some time after, the guests were on the corridor waiting for their char-à-bancs.

From A Daughter of the Vine by Gertrude Franklin Horn Atherton

We started at five o'clock the next morning in a big, open char-à-bancs, and went through the most beautiful forest.

From The Sunny Side of Diplomatic Life, 1875-1912 by L. de (Lillie de) Hegermann-Lindencrone

"Of course, I've only been in taxis and char-à-bancs and things, but I've always wanted to go in a real motor-car—a private one, I mean!"

From The Making of a Soul by Kathlyn Rhodes