calash

[ kuh-lash ]

noun

1. Also a light vehicle pulled by one or two horses, seating two to four passengers, and having two or four wheels, a seat for a driver on a splashboard, and sometimes a folding top.
2. a folding top of a carriage.
3. calèche ( def 1 ).
4. a bonnet that folds back like the top of a calash, worn by women in the 18th century.

calash

/ kəˈlæʃ /

noun

1. a horse-drawn carriage with low wheels and a folding top
2. the folding top of such a carriage
3. a woman's folding hooped hood worn in the 18th century

Word History and Origins

Origin of calash¹

1660–70; < French calèche < German Kalesche < Czech kolesa carriage, literally, wheels; wheel

Word History and Origins

Origin of calash¹

C17: from French calèche, from German Kalesche, from Czech kolesa wheels

Example Sentences

He had escaped in a wretched calash, attended by a small troop.

From Project Gutenberg

A large fourÐwheeled carriage, having a straight body and calash top, with the driver's seat in front and the footman's behind.

From Project Gutenberg

An old calash almost concealed her features from observation, except when she raised her head and glanced at us in a scared, furtive sort of way.

From Project Gutenberg

Coaches grow there no more than balm and spices: we were forced to drop our post-chaise, that resembled nothing so much as harlequin’s calash, which was occasionally a chaise or a baker’s cart.

From Project Gutenberg

Do not trouble her for the loan of umbrellas, over-shoes, hoods, calashes, &c., or send to her for small change.

From Project Gutenberg