trolley car

noun

1. a streetcar propelled electrically by current taken by means of a trolley from a conducting wire strung overhead or running beneath a slot between the tracks.

trolley car

noun

1. another word for streetcar

Word History and Origins

Origin of trolley car¹

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

“Meet Me in St. Louis,” rightly hailed as a Christmas classic, also happens to feature one hell of a Halloween sequence, where unruly, unsupervised children attack their neighbors, build bonfires in the street and at one point nearly derail a trolley car.

From Los Angeles Times

The strikes halted ferries to the islands and shut down bus and trolley car service in Athens, where thousands were expected to attend union-organized protests against the government.

From Seattle Times

It was used to provide electricity to the growing city, particularly powering the electric trolley car system according to the Seattle City Light website.

From Seattle Times

The celebrity comeback has become a cliche in recent years — an expected stop on the trolley car of fame, a required slide in a talent manager’s PowerPoint presentation.

From Washington Post

Shortly after 6 a.m., a trolley car headed down a slope toward a newly finished tunnel under Tremont Street.

From Washington Post