Charabanc

Trevor @ Sunday February 19th 2006 20:07

Michael Quinion says it’s a weird word, so I guess I read weird books. Some early models had the benches raked so that everyone could see forward without standing up; accidents must have been spectacular. Spaniards travelled in char-á-bancs, as well as char-á-banes and charabáns (see porlan), and Cuba may have had the odd chalabán. Eric Partridge calls it a cherry-bounce (is this a plumtree-type euphemism?), which term was also applied to cherry brandy. I know which I’d take right now.


Categories: Languages

« · »

RSS: post comments, blog comments, blog posts

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Share this post
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • Google Bookmarks
  • LinkedIn
  • Live
  • Ma.gnolia
  • Meneame
  • MySpace
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • Technorati
See also
    • This feature doesn't work without post tags, and there don't seem to be any for this post.
    • This feature doesn't work without post tags, and there don't seem to be any for this post.
Writing and translation

Check out the services I provide over at Oreneta.com

Google Reader

I share other stuff over here.

Pordiosería

If you're feeling generous, check out my Amazon wishlists for Deutschland, France , and the UK, or use PayPal to

My 5% bookstore - new stuff



Spanish history

Modern Spanish fiction

Spanish classics

On this day

Barcelona

  • March 17 1844 

    First savings bank opens.
    Ábrese la primera caja de ahorros.

Josep Pla, Palafrugell (1918-9)

  • 17 de març de 1919 A Palafrugell tothom es coneix i això fa que a la superfície de la vida vilatana, al voltant dels afers del poble, siguin sempre visibles algunes passions, els mòbils d’alguns actes, la finalitat d’alguns moviments –i moltes ridiculeses, és clar. A Barcelona, no veig res. Completa obscuritat. Probablement és perquè no tinc encara la vista [...]

Catholic hagiography

The peepul's choice

Back to top