Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A light, four-wheeled open carriage, usually drawn by a pair of horses.
- noun A touring car.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun A high open four-wheeled carriage: as, a park phaëton; a mail phaëton. See cut on following page.
- noun A low open four-wheeled carriage, drawn by one or two horses: as, a pony-phaëton.
- noun [capitalized] [NL.] In ornithology, same as
Phaëthon .
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun A four-wheeled carriage (with or without a top), open, or having no side pieces, in front of the seat. It is drawn by one or two horses.
- noun See
Phaëthon . - noun (Zoöl.) A handsome American butterfly (
Euphydryas Phaëton syn.Melitæa Phaëton ). The upper side of the wings is black, with orange-red spots and marginal crescents, and several rows of cream-colored spots; -- called alsoBaltimore .
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun vehicles a light
four -wheeled open carriage drawn by fourhorses - noun automotive a large
open touring motorcar with afolding top
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun large open car seating four with folding top
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
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Examples
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Our phaeton was a small, white, swan-shaped carriage, ornamented with golden designs, and propelled by a galvanic battery in the graceful swan-head, which at my request took the place of the ordinary steed.
Strange Visitors Henry J. Horn
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The phaeton was a very handsome affair; the horses arched their necks and lifted up their legs as if they knew they belonged to Doctors Commons.
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The phaeton was a very handsome affair; the horses arched their necks and lifted up their legs as if they knew they belonged to Doctors 'Commons.
David Copperfield Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870 1917
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It may be briefly defined as a phaeton without springs.
Russia Donald Mackenzie Wallace 1880
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Although provincial acting is not of the high class which conceals the art, this man's look beside him and behind him at vacant seats had incontestable evidence in support of his declaration, that the lady and gentleman had gone on by themselves: the phaeton was a box of flown birds.
Complete Project Gutenberg Works of George Meredith George Meredith 1868
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Although provincial acting is not of the high class which conceals the art, this man's look beside him and behind him at vacant seats had incontestable evidence in support of his declaration, that the lady and gentleman had gone on by themselves: the phaeton was a box of flown birds.
Lord Ormont and His Aminta — Complete George Meredith 1868
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Although provincial acting is not of the high class which conceals the art, this man's look beside him and behind him at vacant seats had incontestable evidence in support of his declaration, that the lady and gentleman had gone on by themselves: the phaeton was a box of flown birds.
Lord Ormont and His Aminta — Volume 4 George Meredith 1868
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The phaeton was a very handsome affair; the horses arched their necks and lifted up their legs as if they knew they belonged to Doctors 'Commons.
David Copperfield 1850
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The phaeton was a very handsome affair; the horses arched their necks and lifted up their legs as if they knew they belonged to
David Copperfield Charles Dickens 1841
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The little basket-carriage in which Nina made her excursions, and which courtesy called a phaeton, would scarcely have been taken as a model at
Lord Kilgobbin Charles James Lever 1839
chained_bear commented on the word phaeton
See also phaethon.
Wait... does the WeirdNet definition mean that it seats four (presumably people) who have folding tops? Or four people who have one folding top between them?
December 22, 2007
reesetee commented on the word phaeton
Four people, each with his or her own folding top. On his or her head.
December 29, 2007
treeseed commented on the word phaeton
The name phaeton derives from a Greek mythological character, Phaethon, who almost set the world on fire with his reckless driving. This type of carriage was made of wicker, making it quite lightweight. The Phaeton was intended for pleasure driving.
He drove a great roomy, double "phaeton" drawn by two satin bay horses.
_From Pat of Silver Bush by L.M. Montgomery, 1933
February 6, 2008
sionnach commented on the word phaeton
Then there's the recently discovered ancient parchment -
"Pythons on a Phaeton" (said to have been a particular favorite of the Gorgon set).
February 6, 2008
whichbe commented on the word phaeton
A hypothetical planet between Mars and Jupiter that was suggested by Heinrich Wilhelm Matthäus Olbers. He supposed that the planet's destruction formed the Asteroid Belt. Some scientists refer to this proposed planet as Tiamat. (Wikipedia)
May 25, 2008
chained_bear commented on the word phaeton
Usage on barouche.
Every time I see this word, I start quoting this:
Down, down I come, like glist'ring Phaëton,
Wanting the manage of unruly jades.
In the base court? Base court, where kings grow base,
To come at traitors' calls and do them grace.
In the base court, come down? Down court! Down king!
For night-owls shriek where mounting larks should sing.
(Wm. Shakespeare, Richard II, III.iii.178–183)
October 22, 2008