gurney

noun gur·ney \ ˈgər-nē \

|Updated on: 20 Aug 2018

Definition of gurney

plural gurneys

: a wheeled cot or stretcher

See gurney defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of gurney from the Web

Video footage showed the conscious suspect being wheeled into a hospital on a gurney.

— Washington Post, "Gunman arrested after police shootout at Trump resort," 18 May 2018
Davila, 31, belted to a gurney in the Texas death chamber, offered no apologies.

— CBS News, "Texas man executed for killing 5-year-old and her grandmother at girl's birthday party," 26 Apr. 2018
Despite fears from his attorneys that a vein would not be found for the IVs, prison technicians had one needle inserted in his left hand three minutes after he was strapped to the death chamber gurney.

— NBC News, "Texas executes convicted killer whose attorneys proposed firing squad," 28 June 2018
Locklear then proceeded to allegedly kick an EMT who was attempting to put her on a gurney.

— sasha savitsky, Fox News, "Heather Locklear arrested for attacking cop, EMT," 25 June 2018
Photos showing Spade's body being transported on a gurney.

— alia e. dastagir, USA TODAY, "The unintentional consequences of suicide coverage," 6 June 2018
Graphic photographs showed the teenager lying on the rocky ground, bleeding from the head, and later on a hospital gurney.

— isabel kershner and iyad abuheweila, New York Times, "Gaza Protest Draws Fewer People but Remains Deadly," 20 Apr. 2018
Their big brother, Aza, rode on the gurney with them, with mom and dad close behind.

— sarah schreiber, Good Housekeeping, "[UPDATED]: The McDonald Twins Are Miraculously Stable After a Trying Weekend," 17 Oct. 2016
The Texas lethal injection preparation - a part of the process media and witnesses are not permitted to observe - involves inserting two IV lines, while the prisoner is strapped to a gurney.

— keri blakinger, Houston Chronicle, "Houston serial killer Danny Bible's lawyers say he is too sick to execute, predict botched procedure," 8 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gurney.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of gurney

probably ultimately from Gurney cab type of horse-drawn cab with a rear entrance, from J. Theodore Gurney, who patented such a cab in Boston in 1883

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1939

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year