pram

¹ American  

[pram] / præm /

noun

Chiefly British Informal.

1. perambulator.

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pram ² American  

[prahm] / prɑm /

noun

1. a flat-bottomed, snub-nosed boat used as a fishing vessel or tender for larger vessels.

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pram ¹ British  

/ præm /

noun

1. US and Canadian term: baby carriage.  a cot-like four-wheeled carriage for a baby

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pram ² British  

/ prɑːm /

noun

1. nautical a light tender with a flat bottom and a bow formed from the ends of the side and bottom planks meeting in a small raised transom

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Etymology

Origin of pram¹

First recorded in 1880–85; by shortening

Origin of pram²

First recorded in 1540–50 ( late 14th century in Anglo-Latin ); from Dutch praam, Middle Dutch prame, praem (compare Middle Low German pram(e), Old Frisian pram, German Prahm ), from Slavic; compare Czech prám, Polish prom, Russian paróm, Serbo-Croatian prȁm “ferryboat, raft,” cognate with Old High German farm “boat, raft,” Old Norse farmr “freight, cargo”; akin to fare, ferry

Example Sentences

The story goes that they were hidden within a baby's pram to avoid the attention of security.

From BBC • Feb. 21, 2026

"I haven't got a clue about none of it," said one young mother pushing a pram, before adding that she'd like to see more information.

From BBC • Jan. 1, 2026

An eight-month-old baby and two toddlers, aged 14 months and 18 months, are in a serious condition in hospital after their pram was hit by a trailer in Dumfries.

From BBC • Oct. 14, 2025

And with that, Nour places Sally in her pram and takes her outside, past the school, for her very first trip around their neighbourhood.

From BBC • Oct. 2, 2025

We push the pram to a dark corner and peel the bananas for the twins.There are five bananas in the bunch and we feast on them in the dark corner.

From "Angela's Ashes: A Memoir" by Frank McCourt