skeleton car

noun

, Railroads.

1. a freight car essentially consisting of a central longitudinal girder fastened to the trucks, sometimes supplemented by one or more pairs of cross cantilevers: used for carrying logs or containers.

Word History and Origins

Origin of skeleton car¹

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

The Tabby Evo is the second version of the skeleton car.

From The Guardian

On the opposite side of the road a long low skeleton car was standing, one side lurched drunkenly down with two wheels in the gutter.

From Project Gutenberg