runabout

[ ruhn-uh-bout ]

noun

1. a small, light automobile or other vehicle, usually with an open top; roadster.
2. a small pleasure motorboat.
3. a person who roves around from place to place or group to group.

runabout

/ ˈrʌnəˌbaʊt /

noun

1. a small car, esp one for use in a town
2. a light aircraft
3. a light motorboat
4. a person who moves about constantly or busily

verb

1. intr, adverb to move busily from place to place

Word History and Origins

Origin of runabout¹

First recorded in 1540–50; noun use of verb phrase run about

Example Sentences

By 1900, Columbia set the record for the furthest range ever achieved with an electric car, driving 96 miles on a single charge with an early Runabout model.

From Popular-Science

Zipping around on “rovers”—a vast category of electric, automated runabouts that includes bikes, scooters, and even wheelchairs—is the way to go now.

From Nautilus

Isnt that Mrs. Prenticethe very rich Mrs. Prenticein her electric runabout?

From Project Gutenberg

Then she saw that Jim had left the runabout himself and was now between the shafts of a small low wagon, drawing it into the road.

From Project Gutenberg

The man named Dangler followed the runabout to the road and watched it disappear around a turn bordered by trees.

From Project Gutenberg

Dangler watched the runabout and then gazed up and down the mountain for several minutes.

From Project Gutenberg

There was one from a village called Bahan, saying a green runabout with two men had passed through there about midnight.

From Project Gutenberg