hansom

American  

[han-suhm] / ˈhæn səm /

noun

1. a low-hung, two-wheeled, covered vehicle drawn by one horse, for two passengers, with the driver being mounted on an elevated seat behind and the reins running over the roof.

2. any similar horse-drawn vehicle.

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hansom British  

/ ˈhænsəm /

noun

1. Also called: hansom cab.  (sometimes capital) a two-wheeled one-horse carriage with a fixed hood. The driver sits on a high outside seat at the rear

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Etymology

Origin of hansom

1850–55; named after J. A. Hansom (1803–82), English architect who designed it

Example Sentences

I dash out of the theater to find us a hansom cab, and to whom should I bump smack into but the enigmatic coachman himself!”

From Literature

Perhaps it was some lingering disquiet from that unpleasant incident on the train; she found herself backing away from the line of hansom cabs and clutching the children even more tightly than before.

From Literature

Pedaling down Maxwell Street, I took care to stay away from the hansom cabs and wagons that rushed through the road as though they were racing to see who could mow down the most pedestrians.

From Literature

Donald Pepper formed a special connection with a retired Philadelphia hansom cab horse.

From Washington Post

A team of stagehands and handlers attached Lord’s hansom cab, and Musetta and her paramour loaded into it, with their prop shopping packages.

From New York Times