wagon train

American  

noun

U.S. History.

1. a train of wagons and horses, as one carrying military supplies or transporting settlers in the westward migration.

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wagon train British  

noun

1. a supply train of horses and wagons, esp one going over rough terrain

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Etymology

Origin of wagon train

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

wagon train

In “Sacrament,” Straight turns her singular focus to a handful of nurses camping in a wagon train of funky, sweltering trailers near the hospital they call Our Lady.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2025

Despite the Donner Party disaster—and the fact that they lacked familiarity with the terrain—boosters and wagon train leaders still attempted to find shortcuts on their journeys to California, especially after gold was discovered there.

From National Geographic ● Jul. 25, 2023

The grueling trip will require enduring three tedious weeks of crude travel conditions via coal-fueled locomotive, mule-drawn Erie Canal packet boat, steamship and wagon train.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 5, 2023

“The wagon train era also happened during the time of the Civil War, so race was the most important issue at the time,” he said.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 2, 2022

Then somebody would bring up about Granny’s ancestors leading a wagon train from North Carolina, how they camped here on the ridge under some big sassafras trees while they were building their houses.

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns