brougham

IPA/ˈbruːəm/
KK[brˈuɡəm]IPA/ˈbruːəm/

brougham — noun

1. a small covered passenger carriage on four wheels, driven from an outside front

1.nounC2
Definition

a small covered passenger carriage on four wheels, driven from an outside front seat and usually drawn by one horse

Example

After the opera, Jenna stepped into a brougham waiting by the kerb.

step into a brougham

Bilal hired a brougham to take his mother home from the station.

hire a brougham

Common collocations
  • hire a brougham
  • ride in a brougham
  • brougham roof
  • brougham driver
Synonyms
  • carriage

    the broad general word for a horse-drawn passenger vehicle

  • coach

    usually larger and more formal than a brougham

  • buggy

    usually lighter and more open than a brougham

Usage Note

Usually refers to a private town carriage in older British writing, not a large public coach. A brougham is covered for passengers, while the driver sits outside at the front.

Common Mistakes

The tourists booked seats on a brougham to travel between cities.
The tourists booked seats on a coach to travel between cities.
A brougham is a private passenger carriage, not a large scheduled vehicle for long routes.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Brougham names a specific covered town carriage with the driver seated outside at the front. Carriage is the broad general word for many horse-drawn passenger vehicles. Coach usually suggests a larger or more formal vehicle, often built for longer trips or more passengers. Buggy is usually lighter and more open than a brougham. Use brougham when the exact historical vehicle matters, not just any carriage.

carriage ↗coach ↗buggy ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • brougham roof
  • brougham driver

Phrases

  • hire a brougham
  • ride in a brougham

Prepositions

  • in a brougham
  • by brougham

Etymology

First known use

1851

1851, in the meaning defined above