handcar

[ hand-kahr ]

noun

1. a small railroad car or platform on four wheels propelled by a mechanism worked by hand, used on some railroads for inspecting tracks and transporting workers.

Word History and Origins

Origin of handcar¹

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50; hand + car ¹

Example Sentences

He made a jump off the right-of-way, and as the handcar flashed by he watched its flight from the covert of a weed tangle.

From Project Gutenberg

He was thus engaged when the handcar rattled over the bridge.

From Project Gutenberg

The section men had even got upon their handcar and were pumping away up the east-bound track.

From Project Gutenberg

There was nobody left in the cut, and both the train and the handcar on which the section hands had traveled, were out of sight.

From Project Gutenberg

The crippled one was helped aboard of the handcar, Zeph joined them, and the handcar sped away.

From Project Gutenberg