emergency brake

noun

1. Also called parking brake. a special brake used to prevent a motor vehicle from rolling after it has stopped or been parked. Compare brake ¹( def 1 ).
2. any brake meant to stop a vehicle in an emergency.

Word History and Origins

Origin of emergency brake¹

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

Scottish Finance Secretary Shona Robison ordered the emergency brake on spending in a letter to cabinet colleagues earlier this week.

From BBC

His firm makes magnets that are used in all kinds of systems - from cochlear implants, to emergency brakes on rollercoasters, including at Alton Towers.

From BBC

“And things continued to kind of tick off the list. And then I kind of hit the emergency brake.”

From Seattle Times

When he was 18m from the crossing, the driver applied the emergency brake, which caused a warning horn to sound.

From BBC

The court heard the train's emergency brakes had to be applied.

From BBC