wagon-lit

[va-gawn-lee]

noun

plural

wagons-lits 

1. (in continental European usage) a railroad sleeping car.

wagon-lit

/ vaɡɔ̃li /

noun

1. a sleeping car on a European railway

2. a compartment on such a car

Word History and Origins

Origin of wagon-lit¹

First recorded in 1880–85; from French, equivalent to wagon “railway coach” (from English ) + lit “bed” (from Latin lectus )

Word History and Origins

Origin of wagon-lit¹

C19: from French, from wagon railway coach + lit bed