Forms: 4–6 trayn, 4–7 trayne, (5 treyne), 5–7 traine, 6–7 Sc. tryne, 6– train. [In origin representing two French sbs., traîne fem. (OF. also traïne, trahine) and train masc. (OF. traïn, also trahin), both held to be vbl. sbs. from traîner to drag, draw, etc. (see TRAIN v.1) and corresponding respectively to It. traina, and to Pr. trahí, Sp. tragin (Diez), It. traino. Even in OF., traïn and traïne, though generally distinct, were sometimes used in the same sense. In English, with the loss of final e in pronunciation and its consequent non-significance in spelling, train and traîne were used indifferently from the 14th c., and in the 17th train became the only spelling. On this account, and esp. because senses have arisen in Eng. which have no French prototypes, it is not possible satisfactorily to distinguish two words corresponding to F. traîne and train. The order here followed is therefore tentative and practical. The F. form, when it exists, is given, and it will be seen that branch II corresponds in the main to F. traîne, and branch III to F. train. Branches I and IV contain representatives of both F. words.]
I. Nouns of action from F. traîner or Eng. TRAIN v.1 in various senses. All Obs.
† 1. Tarrying, delay. [App. ‘a dragging out’ of time: cf. TRACT sb.3 1, 1 b. OF. traîne, train ‘retard.’] In quots. 1553, for a train = for a while, for a little time. Obs.
c. 1330. R. Brunne, Chron. (1810), 263. For þe pes to haue, he mad so long a trayne. Ibid., 264. Þorgh Edward long trayne Gascoyn is born doun, Non defendes his chayne, but only Bayoun.
1489. Caxton, Faytes of A., I. xix. 60. Men holde and kepe the in talkyng as by a long trayne fyndyng alwayes somme controuersies that nede not…. But onely for to passe tyme.
1553. Respublica, V. vii. 1603. Thei wilbe heare soone, byde youe theim here for a traine. Ibid., ix. 1665. I leafte people heare for a traine to holde them talke.
† 2. Course or manner of running (of a horse); a course of riding [F. train ‘allure’]. Obs.
1581. A. Hall, Iliad, VIII. 136. His horse he [Jupiter] beates, the ayre they clime, aloft they skimme amaine, Betweene the earth and welkin hie, they tread a iolly trayne.
a. 1625. Fletcher, Woman’s Prize, I. iii. A good tough train would break thee all to pieces.
1677. Lovers Quarrel, 266, in Hazl., E. P. P., II. 264. Your choice horses are wild and tough, And little they can skill of their train.
† b. A particular gait of a horse: see quots.
1565. Blundevil, Horsemanship, I. iii. (1580), B j b. Their [Turky horses’] trauelling pace is neither amble, racke, nor trot; but a certaine kinde of easie traine.
1607. Markham, Caval., IV. i. (1617), 5. This shufling and broken incertaine pace,… is neither amble nor trot, but a mixture of both, as taking his time keeping from trotting, and his motion of legges from ambling, and so compound this which is called a Traine or Racking.
† 3. Falconry. (?) A short flight given to a hawk while being trained. [Not in F.] Obs.
1616. [see TRAIN sb.2 4].
† 4. Training, education. [Not in F.] Obs. rare–1.
1581. Mulcaster, Positions, Ep. Ded. (1887), 3. The generall traine and bringing vp of youth.
II. That which drags or trails, or is trailed.
5. An elongated part of a robe or skirt trailing behind on the ground; commonly worn by women of rank or fashion when in full dress, and by sovereigns and high officials on state occasions, and sometimes borne by a page or attendant as train-bearer. [OF. train, also trainée; mod.F. traîne.]
c. 1440. Promp. Parv., 499/1. Trayle, or trayne of a clothe, sirma.
a. 1450. in Wr.-Wülcker, 564/42. Appendicium, a lady trayne et a pendaunt of a gyrdyll. Ibid., 612/22. Sirma, i. canda vestis feminarum, a trayne.
1457. Coventry Leet Bk., 299. Next folowed our seid souerayn lady, & the Duches of Buk[yngham] bere here Treyne.
1577. F. de L’isle’s Leg., B vj. Would you … wishe that of her who by duetie ought euen to cary vp my trayne I should make my sister in Law?
a. 1600. Bk of Precedence (E.E.T.S.), 26. A Baronesse may haue no trayne borne; but haueing a goune with a trayne, she ought to beare it her selfe.
1617. Moryson, Itin., III. 168. The ordinary Citizens Wiues haue their gownes made with long traines, which are pinned vp in the house.
1711. Addison, Spect., No. 42, ¶ 1. The broad sweeping Train that follows her in all her Motions, and finds constant Employment for a Boy who stands behind her to open and spread it to Advantage.
1791–3. in Spirit Pub. Jrnls. (1799), I. 138. He trod on her crape train.
1798. Jane Austen, Northang. Abb., v. They … pinned up each other’s trains for the dance.
1858. Doran, Crt. Fools, 117. The period [time of Rich. II.] when ladies in England first wore trains.
b. The tail or tail-feathers of a bird, esp. when long and trailing, as in the peacock; in Falconry, the technical name for the tail of a hawk. † Also formerly, the tail of a quadruped (obs.), or of an insect. [Not in F.]
1579. Twyne, Phisicke agst. Fort., I. xlii. 44 b. Declaryng howe well that byrde [hawk] flue,… how many feathers of the trayne, and how many of the winges are remaning or lost.
1579. Spenser, Sheph. Cal., May, 281. His tayle he [the fox] clapt betwixt his legs twayne, Lest he should be descried by his trayne.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., III. iii. 7. Let frantike Talbot triumph for a while, And like a Peacock sweepe along his tayle, Wee’le pull his Plumes, and take away his Trayne.
1610. Guillim, Heraldry, III. xv. (1660), 178. The Lyon is one Colour, shaggie brested, with a certain tuft of haire in his traine.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 211. [The dodo’s] traine [is] three small plumes.
1639. T. de Gray, Compl. Horsem., 24. The trayne [of a horse] long, not too thick, and falling to the ground.
1693. J. Clayton, Acc. Virginia, in Misc. Cur. (1708), III. 332. Their Turtle-Doves … the whole Train is longer much than the Tails of our Pidgeons.
1852. R. F. Burton, Falconry Valley Indus, viii. 76. A splendid goshawk,… with … a queenly train.
c. The tail of a comet; a luminous trail, such as that following a meteor. [Not in F.]
1602. Marston, Antonio’s Rev., I. iii. A blazing comet shot his threatning traine.
1602. Shaks., Ham., I. i. 117 (Qo. 1604). As starres with traines of fier and dewes of blood, Disasters in the sunne.
1663. J. Spencer, Prodigies (1665), 32. The luminous tail or train of a Comet … seems to the eye of ignorance the emblem of a flaming sword, or firy rod.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. ii. 17. In falling [it] leaves the light foaming mass … as a train in the air behind.
1909. Chambers, Story of Comets, 137. The curvature of the train [of Donati’s comet, 1858].
6. poet. Applied to the current of a river, etc., also to the elongated body of a serpent. [Not in F.]
[c. 1586. C’tess Pembroke, Ps. LXXVIII. xx. All that rich land, where over Nilus trailes Of his wett robe the slymy seedy train.]
1667. Milton, P. L., VII. 306. Within those banks, where Rivers now Stream, and perpetual draw thir humid traine.
1695. Blackmore, Pr. Arth., II. 153. Pure Crystal Rivers through the Meadows flow,… Their watry Train in Snaky Windings slides.
1727–46. Thomson, Summer, 900. The green serpent … gathers up his train.
c. 1742. Gray, Ignorance, 3.
| Where rushy Camus’ slowly-winding flood | |
| Perpetual draws his humid train of mud. |
1808. Scott, Marm., III. Introd. Like streamlet … winding slow its silver train.
† 7. Something dragged along the ground to make a scent or trail; a drag; also pieces of carrion or the like laid in a line or trail for luring certain wild beasts, as wolves, foxes, etc., into a trap [so F. trainée]. Obs.
1575. Turberv., Venerie, 187. Take a skynne of bacon … and when it is well broyled … dippe it and puddle it in this sawce … and make a trayn therewith, and … if there be a foxe neare to any place where the trayne is drawne, he will followe it.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts (1658), 527. The Hunters in some Countries … make a train with a Hogs liver sod, cut in pieces and anointed over with hony, and so anointing their shoos with Swines grease, draw after them a dead Cat, which will cause the beast to follow after very speedily.
1727. Bradley’s Fam. Dict., s.v. Animal, For Beasts of Prey, as the Wolf, Fox, Badger, Pole-Cat,… you must make a Train; and when you come to any of the Places you have so prepared, throw four or five Bits of your Train-Carrion upon it, and of Chickens Guts for smaller Beasts.
8. The (visible) track of an animal. rare–1. [Cf. OF. traîne = trace.]
1908. N. Hebrides Mag., Jan., 19. The natives with me saw the train of a turtle on the sand. They thought to capture it, but did not succeed.
III. A suite or sequence of persons or things; a long series.
9. A number of persons following or attending on some one, usually a person of rank; a body of attendants, retainers, or followers; a retinue, suite; sometimes, the vehicles conveying the persons and baggage. [F. train, OF. traînée.]
a. 1440. Sir Degrev., 1139. The Eorl and he with a trayn To the castel gan fare.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, XIII. viii. 48. Al the chymmys riall rownd abowt Was fyllyt with thar tryne and mekill rowt.
1535. Coverdale, 1 Kings x. 2. She came to Ierusalem with a maruelous greate trayne.
1669. Lond. Gaz., No. 333/2. The Venetian Ambassador made his solemn Entry into this City, attended … by a large Train of Coaches.
1711. Steele, Spect., No. 113, ¶ 3. She has ever had a Train of Admirers.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Vanderput & S., i. The long train of mourners.
1875. Jowett, Plato (ed. 2), I. 128. A train of listeners followed him.
b. Mil. The artillery and other apparatus for battle or siege, with the vehicles conveying them and the men in attendance, following or in readiness to follow an army. [F. train.]
1523. Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. lxxvi. 96. Syr Wyllyam Montagu … yssued out a horsbacke, and folowed couertly the hynder trayne of the scottes, who had horses so charged with baggage, yt they might scant go any gret pace.
1643. Chas. I., Treaty at Uxbridge, Wks. 1662, II. 527. The said Train of Artillery to be fitted in all points ready to march.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 497, ¶ 2. A blunt honest fellow, who had a command in the train of artillery.
1810. Wellington, in Gurw., Desp. (1838), VI. 88. They have collected a train of artillery at Salamanca for the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo.
1900. Daily News, 11 June, 4/3. The military expression … ‘our trains,’ is apt to lead to misunderstanding … where the troops … have been actually travelling by railway trains.
† c. The rear of an army or body of soldiers. Obs. rare. [F. train.]
1598. Barret, Theor. Warres, II. i. 28. How to turne their faces, making front of either flanke or traine. Ibid., III. ii. 55. The armed pikes … shall be … placed in the front and in traine of the battell.
10. fig. A set of attendant things, circumstances, or conditions; a series of consequences; in quot. 1638, something following, a sequel. Often in phr. in the train of, as a sequel to; so in its train.
1570. Satir. Poems Reform., xix. 101. That Kingdome sall come to greit ruyne Quhen that deuissioun hes his suit and tryne.
1638. R. Baker, trans. Balzac’s Lett. (vol. II.), 23. For a traine to this first favour I require from you a second.
1721. Berkeley, Prev. Ruin Gt. Brit., Wks. III. 202. This vice draweth after it a train of evils.
1768. Sterne, Sent. Journ., Passport Paris. The idea presented itself … with this in its train.
1833. Ht. Martineau, Brooke Farm, xii. Education came in the train of other good things.
1871. Smiles, Charac., i. (1876), 9. There is no act, however trivial, but has its train of consequences.
11. A body of persons, animals, vehicles, etc., travelling together in order, esp. in a long line or procession; a succession of persons; fig. (chiefly poet.) a set or class of persons. [F. train.]
1489. Caxton, Faytes of A., I. xxiii. 70. A longe trayne of men of armes al clos togyder.
1591. Shaks., 1 Hen. VI., II. ii. 34. Which of this Princely trayne Call ye the Warlike Talbot?
1698. Fryer, Acc. E. India & P., 291. The best Hawks … fly in Trains like Wild Geese.
1746. Francis, trans. Horace, Epist., II. ii. 129. What milder Frenzy goads the rhiming Train?
1829. Scott, Anne of G., vii. The caravans, or large trains of waggons, by which the internal commerce … was carried on.
1884. Gilmour, Mongols, 287. Camels, trains of which … may be seen making their way along the crowded streets.
12. A number of things following one another in time or order; a series or course of actions, events, etc. a. A course of action in relation to its manner or purpose; method of procedure; manner of action; way of life; course, drift, or direction of a discourse, argument, etc. Now rare or Obs. (passing into b). [F. train.]
c. 1530. (title) The ordre or Trayne of Warre, that a prynce or heed Captayne ought to take.
1534. More, Treat. Passion, Wks. 1330/2. They … corrupte some well mynded menne, before they perceyue the trayne of theyr craftye purpose.
1580. Sidney, Ps. XV. He that leads of life an uncorrupted traine.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm., Wks. 1716, I. 39. God … by secret methods and undiscernable trains, ordereth all events.
1756. Hume, Hist. Eng. (1761), II. xxviii. 134. His splendid ostentatious train of life.
1836. Random Recoll. Ho Lords, xvi. 388. You never misapprehend the train of his reasoning.
b. In general: A series, succession, sequence (of actions, events, thoughts, or phenomena); a continuous course (of action, reasoning, etc.).
c. 1645. Howell, Lett. (1650), I. 445. A wife is the best or worst fortune that can betide a man throughout the whole train of his life.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., II. xiv. § 3. A train of Ideas, which constantly succeed one another in his Understanding.
1732. [see TRACT sb.3 2].
1764. Reid, Inquiry, v. § 5. Long and demonstrative trains of reasoning.
1769. Robertson, Chas. V., I. Wks. 1813, V. 165. A long train of fortunate events.
1858. Buckle, Civiliz. (1871), II. viii. 582. The result of a long train of causes.
c. Proper sequence, order, or arrangement for some result; connected order; course, process: in phr. in train (formerly also in a train, and with defining adj., as in (a) good train).
1528. Gardiner, in Pocock, Rec. Ref., I. xlii. 82. Everything in good train and order.
1591. Savile, Tacitus, Agricola, 260. Our men … were now in traine of winning the fielde.
1690. Locke, Hum. Und., III. vii. § 2. It is not enough that a Man has Ideas clear and distinct … he must think in train.
1746. W. Horsley, Fool (1748), II. 23. The Affairs of Europe hereby put in a happy Train.
1842. Macaulay, in Life & Lett (1883), II. 114. I am … desirous to get on with my History, which is … in a fair train.
1885. ‘Mrs. Alexander,’ At Bay, x. Putting matters in train for the election.
13. A line of gunpowder or other combustible substance laid so as to convey fire to a mine or charge for the purpose of exploding it. Also fig. [It. traina (Florio); F. trainée.]
a. 1548. Hall, Chron. Hen. VIII., 118. The Frenchmen … made traynes of gunpouder from strete to strete.
1677. W. Hughes, Man of Sin, I. i. 4. A Mine was made, and Train was laid hereby for blowing up the Gospel it self.
1798. in Nicolas, Nelson’s Disp. (1846), VII. p. clviii. She [a ship] was set on fire by a train.
1839. Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl., II. 45/1. We were fortunate enough to witness two of these blasting operations…. The order for firing the train given…. In a few seconds after the ignition of the train, a rumbling sound, like that of … distant thunder was heard, and the … whole mass was lifted bodily from its base.
1850. Grote, Greece, II. lxi. VII. 517. He … had already laid his train … for revolt.
1855. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., xxi. IV. 549. The spark had fallen: the train was ready: the explosion was immediate and terrible. After a tumultuous debate [etc.].
b. Pieces of carrion or the like laid in a line or trail for luring certain wild beasts: see sense 7.
14. An extended series of material objects or the like; a row, rank; esp. a series of things arranged in a definite order for some purpose; rarely, a continuous extent of something.
1610. Holland, Camden’s Brit. (1637), 343. Vpon this shore, lie out with a long traine certaine heapes in manner bankes or rampiers.
1664. Power, Exp. Philos., I. 43. Being layd of a row or train.
1763. W. Roberts, Nat. Hist. Florida, p. vi. Our more northern colonies … form one continued train along the whole eastern-side of North-America.
1774. M. Mackenzie, Maritime Surv., 76. When the Survey has been continued by a Train of stasimetric Triangles.
1863. Lyell, Antiq. Man, xviii. 356. Detached fragments of rock … in long parallel trains.
1878. Abney, Photogr. (1881), 280. A train of prisms … set to the angle of minimum deviation.
15. A set of connected parts of mechanism that actuate one another in series; spec. (a) the set of wheels and pinions in a clock or watch that turns the hands (going train), or that which actuates the striking part (striking train); (b) a set or pair of rollers used in metal-working; a roll-train.
1797. Monthly Mag., III. 464. Thus the progressive motion is communicated to the cotton spindles in the same manner as it is to the different parts of a common time-piece—by a train of wheels.
1831. Brewster, Nat. Magic, xi. (1833), 293. Motions are propagated … along a great variety of trains of mechanism.
1838. [see GOING vbl. sb. 6].
1881. [see roll-train, ROLL sb.1 17].
1884. F. J. Britten, Watch & Clockm., 266. The remarks on the train of a going barrel watch apply equally to the going train of a clock.
1885. C. G. W. Lock, Workshop Receipts, Ser. IV. 307/2. The parts most likely to require repair in the striking trains of clocks.
16. A number of railway carriages, vans, or trucks coupled together (usually including the locomotive by which they are drawn). [So F. train.]
Orig. train of carriages, etc.; now one of the chief uses of the simple word: cf. 22 b.
a. 1824. A. Scott, Ess. Rail-roads, in Trans. Highland Soc. (1824), VI. 29. By continually shifting the train of waggons at the head and foot of the inclined plane, from the one railway to the other.
1825. in W. Chambers, About Railways (1865), 6 (Opening of Stockton and Darlington R.). The signal being given, the engine started off with this immense train of carriages.
1830. Times, 17 Sept. The Northumbrian drawing the splendid train of carriages occupied by the Duke of Wellington…. The Northumbrian locomotive engine, which had drawn the train of the Duke of Wellington.
1835. Marryat, Olla Podr., vi. The trains went on well.
1837. Cornish’s Railway Companion, Title-p., The Company’s charges from one station to another;… time of departure and arrival of each train, etc.
1839. W. Chambers, Tour in Belgium, 73/1. We were speedily carried to the railway terminus, where a train of carriages was in waiting, with its locomotive engine hissing and chafing.
1855. Lynch, Rivulet, LXII. ii. Thus through a distant valley’s length Slow seems to glide the train.
1885. Mabel Collins, Prettiest Woman, x. A train left Warsaw early in the morning.
b. Hence, a line of vehicles coupled together.
1883. Gresley, Gloss. Coal-mining, Journey, a train or set of trams all coupled together.
† 17. See quot. Obs. [Cf. F. train, ‘nombre de vibrations qu’un mouvement d’horlogerie produit dans un temps déterminé’ (Littré).] (Perhaps not Eng.)
1704. J. Harris, Lex. Techn., I. Train, is the Number of Beats which the Watch maketh in an Hour or any other certain time.
IV. Names of other things (chiefly material) derived from prec. branches.
† 18. Cookery. A dish consisting of dates, figs, raisins, and almonds strung upon a long thread and covered with batter. Obs.
c. 1450. Two Cookery-bks., 97. Trayne roste. Take Dates and figges … and þen take grete reysons and blanched almondes, and prik hem thorgh with a nedel into a threde of a mannys length,… rost the treyne abought the fire in þe spete;… cast the batur on the treyne as he turneth abought the fire.
14[?]. Conuiuium domini de la Grey, ibid. 60. Le .ij. cours … Halybutte. Plays fryid. Trayne Roste.
14[?]. MS. Douce 55, lf. 64.
† 19. The carriage of a printing-press. [F. train.] (Perh. only French.) Obs.
1594. R. Ashley, trans. Loys le Roy, 22. He maketh the train of the presse to roule [etc.].
20. Applied to various material objects that are dragged. a. The trail of a gun-carriage: see TRAIL sb.1 5.
1769. Falconer, Dict. Marine (1776), II. Crochets deretraite, the eye-bolts, in the train of a gun-carriage, wherein are hooked the relieving tackles.
1815. [see train-tackle in 22 c].
b. A rough kind of sledge or sleigh used in Canada for transport. [Cf. F. traineau.]
1835. C. F. Hoffman, Winter in Far West, I. 210. At last a train [note, a rough kind of sled] and a couple of carioles drove up to the door.
1860. Bartlett, Dict. Amer., Train (Fr. traineau), a peculiar kind of sleigh used for the transportation of merchandise, wood, etc., in Canada.
† c. A drag-net, a seine. [F. traîne.] Obs.
1576. Fleming, trans. Caius’ Dogs (1880), 14. Such Dogges as serue for fowling…. The first kinde of such serue the Hauke, The seconde, the net, or traine.
1609. Bible (Douay), Hab. i. 15. He drew it in his traine [L. sagena], and gathered it into his nette.
† 21. A rope for dragging a plough or harrow. local. Obs.
1798. Statist. Acc. Scot., XX. 260. The harrows are drawn side-ways by a train or side rope (like that used in a plough).
V. 22. attrib. and Comb. a. In sense 5, ‘Having a train,’ as train-dress, -gown, -petticoat, -skirt; also train-bearer, an attendant who carries the train of a sovereign or other person; also fig.; so train-bearing adj.; train-tea, a tea-party on the occasion of a young lady’s presentation at court.
1722. Lond. Gaz., No. 6084/6. Sir Robert Rich his *Train-bearer sitting over-against him.
1838. Q. Victoria, Jrnl., 28 June. I … went into a robing-room, where I found my eight train-bearers: Lady Caroline Lennox [etc.].
1871. Lowell, Pope, Prose Wks. 1890, IV. 56. No poet more often than he makes the second line of the couplet a mere train-bearer to the first.
1848. Buckley, Iliad, 129. The *train-bearing Trojan women.
1792. Trans. Soc. Arts, X. 199. The principal consumption in this cloth, is in *train-dresses for ladies’ wearing.
1831. Carlyle, Sart. Res., I. vii. Wives of quality … have *train-gowns four or five ells in length; which trains there are boys to carry.
1678. Lond. Gaz., No. 1287/4. One long *Train petticoat of rich flowred Silk.
1876. T. Hardy, Ethelberta, II. 15. A light muslin *train-skirt.
1897. Spectator, 16 Jan., 96/1. The *‘train-tea’ that celebrates the presentation at Court of an English girl in good society.
b. In sense 16, as train hand (HAND sb. 8), train journey, -line, -load, -robber, -robbery, -service, -speed, -thief, -time, -wreck, -wrecker, -wrecking; also train-boy, (a) Coal-mining: see quot. 1883; (b) (U.S. and Canada), a boy who sells newspapers, etc., on a railway train; train-dispatcher (U.S. and Canada), the officer who has charge of the running of trains on a railway; train-ferry, a ferry for conveying trains across a piece of water from one railway to another; so train-ferriage; train-mile, each mile of the aggregate distance run by all the trains on a railway in a given period, as a unit in estimating amount of traffic, working expenses, etc.; so train-mileage; train-pipe, a pipe connecting the source of power with the brakes on the cars in a continuous system of brakes on a railway train (also called brake-pipe); train-road = train-way (a); train-shed (U.S.), a roof supported by posts forming a shelter for one or more platforms at which trains stop; a roughly built or uninclosed railway station; train-sheet, a ruled sheet on which are recorded the movements of every train on a section of railway, according to information telegraphed from the various stations; train-sickness, a sickness or nausea to which some persons are subject when travelling by train; so train-sick adj.; train-signal, a method of signalling from the cars of a train to the engine by a continuous pipe (Cent. Dict. Suppl.); train-staff, (a) a staff delivered to an engine-driver as authority to travel over a single-line section of railway; (b) the staff of employees on a railway train; train-stop, an automatic apparatus, in connection with a railway signal, for stopping a train; train-way, (a) a temporary line of rails for the conveyance of small loads, as in the course of construction of a railway; (b) a platform hinged to a wharf, with a line of rails upon which railway cars or trucks may run to and from a ferry-boat (U.S.).
1883. Gresley, Gloss. Coal-mining, *Train-boy, a boy who rides upon the train, to attend to the rope attachments, etc.
1890. Opelousas (LA) Democrat, 19 April, 3/2. A boy who gets a position as train boy for our company must put up a certain amount of money as a guarantee.
1901. Westm. Gaz., 21 Feb., 10/2. Scarcely any observer has omitted to complain of the importunities of the train-boy [on American railways], with his merchandise of bananas and candies and chewing gum and dime novels.
1881. Chicago Times, 14 May. John Converse is appointed assistant *train-dispatcher.
1897. Month, Sept., 281. Behring Strait could be crossed by some powerful system of *train-ferriage.
1900. Monthly Rev., I. 41. The present route is across the lake by *train-ferry.
1894. Westm. Gaz., 3 Sept., 5/1. Many acts of heroism are reported, especially on the part of *train hands.
1908. Daily Chron., 11 March, 9/5. The *train-indicator, a huge framework confronting every passenger when he enters. There are eighteen clock faces, each of which tells the time at which the next train on the various lines departs.
1900. G. Swift, Somerley, 94. On our *train-journey home.
1882. Macm. Mag., XLV. 502. Arrival of the *train-loads of troops.
1894. T. M. Cooley in Forum (N.Y.), Sept., 17. Train-loads of perishable goods were … ruined by delays which the strike had caused.
1898. Engineering Mag., XVI. 66. Of an American railway … the superintendent … is assisted by a *trainmaster, a roadmaster or division engineer,… and a chief dispatcher.
1864. Webster, *Train-mile.
1868. Q. Rev., Oct., 300. The working expense per train-mile is 2s. 6d.
1892. Daily News, 17 Feb., 2/6. The great industrial lines have run more train-miles, and therefore done more work, during the past half-year.
1863. Q. Rev., Oct., 301. A large proportion of the *train-mileage run … is useless, being far in excess of [public] requirements.
1909. Great Central Railway Report, 6 Aug., 5. The strictest economy has been exercised in train mileage.
1889. Findlay, Eng. Railway, 120. While the train is running a continual vacuum is maintained in the *train-pipes.
1828. Webster, *Train road … in mines, a slight rail-way for small wagons.
1877. Knight, Dict. Mech., Train-road, a construction railway; a slight railway for small loads.
1892. Gunter, Miss Dividends (1893), 257. An institution … implacable in its pursuit of *train robbers, highwaymen, and others that raid the precious things the business community intrust to it.
1905. Daily Chron., 17 April, 4/5. There are two forms of criminal activity in which the United States enjoys an unenviable distinction. One of them is lynching and the other is *train-robbery.
Mod. The *train-service to London has been improved.
1878. F. S. Williams, Midl. Railw., 639. The *train setters and their foremen.
1892. Pall Mall G., 21 Nov., 7/3. The great iron and glass portal … will constitute the most extensive railway *train-shed in existence [at Philadelphia, U.S.].
1909. Daily Chron., 22 July, 7/1. Anyone to whom trains give the least sensation of vertigo should sit facing [the engine]…. Children who are otherwise *train-sick will travel fairly well seated thus.
1906. Westm. Gaz., 27 Sept., 4/2. Many travellers suffer from *train-sickness.
1901. Daily Chron., 1 May, 8/7. In these days when *train-speeds in Great Britain are mostly stationary.
1895. Funk’s Standard Dict., s.v. Staff, *Train-staff.
1907. Daily News, 16 Jan., 5/1. The Isle of Sheppey Light Railway is in single track … and it will be worked on the train-staff and ticket system.
1906. Westm. Gaz., 27 April, 7/1. The train staff having dealt so promptly with the trouble that the only sign of fire was a little smoke. Ibid., 27 Feb., 7/2. The *train-stop at the signal-post actuated the continuous brake, and thereby … brought the vehicle to a standstill.
1892. Pall Mall G., 15 March, 2/1. It was *train-time, and I rose to leave him.
1881. Chicago Times, 17 June. Running a car from a siding on the *train track.
1839. Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl., II. 46/1. The wagons when loaded … are easily pushed … down the *trainway to the face of the cliff.
1877. Knight, Dict. Mech., Train-way, a hinged platform which forms a bridge leading from a wharf to the deck of a ferry-boat.
1891. Boston (Mass.) Jrnl., 26 Oct., 1/6. A *train-wrecker caught.
1885. Manch. Exam., 10 Jan., 5/1. An unsuccessful attempt at *train-wrecking.
c. In other senses: train-bolt, ‘a bolt to which the training-tackle of a gun is hooked’ (Cent. Dict.); † train-horse, a horse employed to draw artillery; train-net = sense 20 c; train-rope, train-tackle, a tackle hooked to the trail of a gun-carriage on board ship: see quot.; train-service (in sense 9 b); train-shut a., shut by a train of wheels and pinions; train-work, a mechanism consisting of a series of parts (sense 15).
1643. in 13th Rep. Hist. MSS. Comm., App. I. 131. The county complains that we have not charged the *Train horse according to the letter of the Ordinance.
1710. Lond. Gaz., No. 4682/2. Train Horses … employed in drawing forty pieces of Artillery.
1864. Glasgow Daily Herald, 24 Sept. There is as much damage done with *train nets as with trawl nets.
1887. Spectator, 3 Sept., 1174. Their *train-services collected and equipped for a campaign.
1632. Lithgow, Trav., I. 5. Mine Epitaph shall sound, Of *traine-shut sluces, of the Thespian spring, Where chatring birds, Dodonean trees do sing.
1815. Burney, Falconer’s Dict. Marine, *Train-Tackle,… a combination of pulleys, which is, during action, hooked to an eye-bolt, in the train of the carriage, and to a ring-bolt in the deck…. Its use is, to prevent the gun from running out of the port whilst loading.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Train-tackle.
1876. Preece & Sivewright, Telegraphy, 92. The Morse involves a complicated and expensive *trainwork of mechanism.
