[ad. dial. Ger. barutsche (also birutsche), ad. Sp. barrocho or It. baroccio, properly biroccio ‘chariot,’ orig. ‘two-wheeled car,’ f. L. bīrōtus ‘two-wheeled,’ perhaps assimilated in its ending to carroccio ‘chariot’ (Diez). The Eng. barouche assumes, in spelling and pronunciation, a French form, but no such word exists in F. (exc. as taken from Eng.)]
A four-wheeled carriage with a half-head behind which can be raised or let down at pleasure, having a seat in front for the driver, and seats inside for two couples to sit facing each other.
[1805. Mrs. R. Trench, Rem. (1862), 172. I saw a birutsche to-day, which the baroness has bought for 150 louis. It … has no resemblance to an English carriage.]
1813. Examiner, 28 March, 198/2. He was met at Totterdown-hill, and escorted to our Exchange in a barouche and six.
1815. Miss Austen, Emma (1870), II. xiv. 233. Their barouche-landau … holds four perfectly.
1854. Thackeray, Newcomes, I. 62. Great dowager barouches roll along emblazoned with coronets.
