Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A car provided with means and appliances for clearing wreckage or other obstructions from a railroad-track. Sometimes it is a long platform-car fitted with a small derrick and a house at one end.

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word wrecking-car.

Examples

  • "Somebody run over -- can't get them out," he said, as they swung on board the wrecking-car and started.

    Chapter 5 1917

  • With his late employer's gear he fastened to the old castings and the boiler, lifted them with the derrick on the wrecking-car, and swung them up and around onto the flat-cars.

    The Valley of the Giants 1918

  • The crew had been used to receiving orders from Rondeau, and moreover they were not aware of his recent action; hence at his command they ran the switch-engine out of the roundhouse, coupled up the two flat-cars and the wrecking-car, and backed down to the crossing.

    The Valley of the Giants 1918

  • By utilizing the steel derrick on the company's wrecking-car, this task was completed by noon, and after luncheon the mogul backed up the main line past the switch into the Laguna Grande yards; whereupon the switch-engine kicked the two flat-cars and the wrecking-car out of the yard and down to the crossing, where the obstructions were promptly unloaded.

    The Valley of the Giants 1918

  • "Somebody run over -- can't get them out," he said, as they swung on board the wrecking-car and started.

    Jerry of the Islands Jack London 1896

  • "If you will take a bit of help from an outsider, I think we needn't wait for the wrecking-car," he said to the dubious trainmen.

    A Fool for Love Francis Lynde 1893

  • Through the window Irene saw a stretch of wheat-fields, a red - clay embankment, a wrecking-car, a group of earth-stained laborers leaning on their picks and shovels, and something lying beneath a sheet on bare ground.

    The Desired Woman 1888

  • “Somebody run over — can’t get them out,” he said, as they swung on board the wrecking-car and started.

    CHAPTER V 2010

  • "Now I work for M'sieur Cardigan; so, M'sieur, I will have zee switchengine weeth two flat-cars and zee wrecking-car.

    The Valley of the Giants 1918

  • I have here zee wrecking-car -- all you need; pretty soon we lift him off zee crossing, I tell you, eh, M'sieur Cardigan? "

    The Valley of the Giants 1918

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.