hotbox

noun

hot·​box ˈhät-ˌbäks How to pronounce hotbox (audio)
: a journal bearing (as of a railroad car) overheated by friction

Examples of hotbox in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This bill would mandate hotbox detectors every ten miles, imposing a one-size-fits-all, arbitrary government mandate on technology that has already been adopted successfully by railroads on their own. The Editors, National Review, 21 Mar. 2023 One example of this is hotbox detectors, which use infrared sensors to measure whether wheelsets are overheating. The Editors, National Review, 21 Mar. 2023 The Transportation Department has been urging railroads to take proactive steps in the wake of the derailment, including examining their use of hotbox detectors. Ian Duncan, Anchorage Daily News, 7 Mar. 2023 Expect delays in both directions — Metrorail Info (@Metrorailinfo) February 27, 2023 Transportation, commuting and the pandemic Derailment: Crew tried to stop Ohio train after alert on overheating wheel bearing Rail safety: Railroad hotboxes are focus of Ohio derailment probe. Justin George, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2023 The bipartisan Senate measure would strengthen rail car and railway detector inspection requirements, such as mandating that a hotbox detector scan trains carrying hazardous materials every 10 miles. Stephanie Lai, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Mar. 2023 The bill mandates that trains carrying hazardous materials be scanned by hotbox detectors every 10 miles and that the detectors be equipped to alert rail operators effectively. Prem Thakker, The New Republic, 1 Mar. 2023 Train cars that have had hotbox alerts should be properly inspected, the advisory recommends. Ian Duncan and Luz Lazo, Anchorage Daily News, 1 Mar. 2023

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

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hotbox was in 1848

Dictionary Entries Near hotbox

Cite this Entry

“Hotbox.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hotbox. Accessed 10 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

hotbox

noun
hot·​box -ˌbäks How to pronounce hotbox (audio)
: a bearing (as of a railroad car) overheated by friction
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