Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The rear seating compartment of an early type of automobile.
  • noun A removable cover that fits tightly over the cargo box of a pickup truck.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A tub.
  • noun A name given by French builders of motorcars to the rounded or cask-like rear body of the vehicle.
  • noun See êtonne.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun In France, a light-wheeled vehicle with square or rounded body and rear entrance.
  • noun (Automobiles) Orig., the after part of the body with entrance at the rear (as in vehicle in def. 1); now, one with sides closing in the seat or seats and entered by a door usually at the side, also, the entire body of an automobile having such an after part.
  • noun same as Tonne.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The rear body or compartment of some types of motor vehicle, especially one containing seats for passengers.
  • noun An old-style open passenger vehicle with a tonneau (rear compartment with seats).
  • noun Short for tonneau cover.

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[French, from Old French tonnel, cask; see tunnel.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From French tonneau.

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Examples

  • There will be one set of batteries there, together with the motor, and another set of batteries will be placed under the removable seats in what I call the tonneau, though, of course, it isn't really that.

    Tom Swift and His Electric Runabout, or, the Speediest Car on the Road Victor [pseud.] Appleton

  • There was only Helen on the front seat of the car; but in the tonneau was a bundled-up figure surmounted by what looked to be a scarlet cap which Ruth knew instantly must be Tom's.

    Ruth Fielding of the Red Mill Or, Jasper Parloe's Secret Alice B. Emerson

  • In the tonneau was a matronly woman and three girls including "L'Enfant Terrible," all,

    Cap'n Abe, Storekeeper James A. Cooper

  • Behind in the tonneau were her maid of honor, a young Syrian woman with a baby in her arms and four other black-eyed children about her.

    Tish 1916

  • Behind in the tonneau were her maid of honor, a young Syrian woman with a baby in her arms and four other black-eyed children about her.

    Tish Mary Roberts Rinehart 1917

  • In town a defective sparkplug brings the close attention of a crowd which exchanges opinions as to whether the lady in the tonneau is your wife.

    The Patient Observer And His Friends Simeon Strunsky 1913

  • In the front of the tonneau was a large packing-case.

    Lady Bountiful George A. Birmingham 1907

  • The "tonneau" is open at the upper edge and is closed by a conical roof (Fig. 18).

    5 Cassava 1978

  • The "tonneau" can be compared to a large barrel and is erected on a low platform.

    5 Cassava 1978

  • The "tonneau" consists of a wooden frame in which mats are stretched.

    5 Cassava 1978

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