calash

American  

[kuh-lash] / kəˈlæʃ /

noun

1. Also a light vehicle pulled by one or two horses, seating two to four passengers, and having two or four wheels, a seat for a driver on a splashboard, and sometimes a folding top.

2. a folding top of a carriage.

3. calèche.

4. a bonnet that folds back like the top of a calash, worn by women in the 18th century.

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calash British  

/ kəˈlæʃ /

noun

1. a horse-drawn carriage with low wheels and a folding top

2. the folding top of such a carriage

3. a woman's folding hooped hood worn in the 18th century

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Etymology

Origin of calash

1660–70; < French calèche < German Kalesche < Czech kolesa carriage, literally, wheels; see wheel

Example Sentences

She was clothed, her dress soaked from the water in which she had sunk herself; she wore a calash upon her head.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson

Oh, yes, you'll come down, I don't mistrust that," she replied, slowly nodding her green calash, "as long as the schoolmarm is at the Hill; but Annie will look paler than ever.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 16, No. 98, December, 1865 by Various

A rosy, dark-eyed face looked out from the faded green calash, a gayly flowered gown was looped up over a blue quilted petticoat, and a red camlet cloak hung down behind.

From Spinning-Wheel Stories by Alcott, Louisa May

As soon as she had got rid of her visitor, Mrs. Clavering hastily threw on her calash, and repaired at a brisk pace to Uncle Philip's cabin.

From Pencil Sketches or, Outlines of Character and Manners by Leslie, Eliza

When she returns at night, she appears, if the weather happens to be doubtful, in a calash; and her servant in pattens, follows half behind and half at her side, with a lantern.

From A Century of English Essays An Anthology Ranging from Caxton to R. L. Stevenson & the Writers of Our Own Time by Rhys, Ernest