hansom

noun

han·​som ˈhan(t)-səm How to pronounce hansom (audio)
: a light 2-wheeled covered carriage with the driver's seat elevated behind

called also hansom cab

Illustration of hansom

Illustration of hansom

Examples of hansom in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In Franco Zeffirelli’s lavish production, the moment is an awe-inspiring spectacle, evoking the Latin Quarter in Paris and bustling with some 250 people onstage — and a donkey and a horse, who pulls a hansom cab onstage for a dramatic entrance. New York Times, 17 May 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hansom.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Joseph A. Hansom †1882 English architect

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hansom was in 1847

Dictionary Entries Near hansom

Cite this Entry

“Hansom.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hansom. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

hansom

noun
han·​som ˈhan(t)-səm How to pronounce hansom (audio)
: a light two-wheeled covered carriage with the driver's seat elevated behind

called also hansom cab

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