tonneau

noun

ton·​neau ˈtä-ˌnō How to pronounce tonneau (audio) tə-ˈnō How to pronounce tonneau (audio)
plural tonneaus
1
a
: a rear seating compartment of an automobile
also : the entire seating compartment
2
: a shape of watch case or dial resembling a barrel in profile

Examples of tonneau in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Well, more of a cross between a bed and a trunk; it was completely enclosed, with a single-piece tonneau that hinged upwards like a sedan’s rear hatch and a pair of side-opening doors instead of a fold-down tailgate. Will Sabel Courtney, Robb Report, 5 Aug. 2025 When lowered, the roof folds neatly under a tonneau behind the car’s two seats. Alistair Charlton, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025 The magazine re-ran the tonneau testing at 65 miles per hour instead and saw significant gains. Bradley Brownell / Jalopnik, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024 Convertibles have a cover for the top mechanism that hides the engine, even with the convertible tonneau raised. Ezra Dyer, Car and Driver, 26 Oct. 2022 See All Example Sentences for tonneau

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, tun, from Old French tonel — more at tunnel entry 1

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of tonneau was in 1901

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tonneau.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tonneau. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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