wagon train

noun

: a column of wagons (as of supplies for a group of settlers) traveling overland

Examples of wagon train in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web At the turn of the 20th century, the oasis town became a rest area for wagon trains and a stop on the new railroad connecting Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. Chris Carra, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Feb. 2024 Stephens is noted for being the captain of the Stephens-Townsend-Murphy Party in 1844, the first successful wagon train to cross the Sierra Nevada, two years before the infamous Donner Party. Lisa Thorn, The Mercury News, 4 Feb. 2024 That is the only way to explain the series of misfortunes that have plagued the wagon train known as the Donner Party. Krista Simmons, Sunset Magazine, 27 Dec. 2023 After a gang of ne’er-do-wells retaliated to Claire’s scorn by shooting several members of the wagon train, including Mary Abel, Claire died by suicide beside her daughter’s grave. Lauren Hubbard, Town & Country, 14 Nov. 2022 However, Elsa dies from an arrow shot during an attack on the family’s wagon train, and the couple never reunite. Emily J. Shiffer, Peoplemag, 15 Sep. 2023 The storm rips through the wagon train destroying every wagon except for two. Josh St. Clair, Men's Health, 6 Feb. 2022 But the season ended with the death of narrator Elsa Dutton, played by May, and the wagon train leader Shea Brennan (Sam Elliott). Aimée Lutkin, ELLE, 24 June 2023 But life in a wagon train is fraught with hardship, fear, and death. Krista Simmons, Sunset Magazine, 5 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wagon train.' 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

1810, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of wagon train was in 1810

Dictionary Entries Near wagon train

Cite this Entry

“Wagon train.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wagon%20train. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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