caboose

noun ca·boose \kə-ˈbüs\

: a part of a train that is attached at the back end and is used by people who work on the train

Full Definition of CABOOSE

: a ship's galley

: a freight-train car attached usually to the rear mainly for the use of the train crew

: one that follows or brings up the rear

: buttocks

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Origin of CABOOSE

probably from Dutch kabuis, kombuis, from Middle Low German kabūse

First Known Use: 1732

Related to CABOOSE

Synonyms: backside, behind, booty (also bootie) [slang], bottom, breech, bum, buns, butt, buttocks, can, cheeks, derriere (or derrière), duff, fanny, fundament, hams, haunches, heinie [slang], hunkers, keister (also keester) [slang], nates, posterior, rear, rear end, rump, seat, tail, tail end, tush [slang]

Rhymes with CABOOSE

Aarhus, abstruse, abuse, adduce, Atreus, blue spruce, burnoose, Cayuse, Cepheus, ceruse, charmeuse, chartreuse, Chartreuse, conduce, couscous, cut loose, deduce, diffuse, disuse, educe, effuse, excuse, fair use, footloose, hang loose, induce, Lanús, misuse, mongoose, Morpheus, negus, obtuse, Orpheus, papoose, Peleus, Perseus, prepuce, produce, profuse, Proteus, Purus, recluse, red spruce, reduce, refuse, retuse, reuse, Sanctus, seduce, slip noose, snow goose, Tereus, Theseus, traduce, transduce, turn loose, unloose, vamoose

CABOOSE Defined for Kids

caboose

noun ca·boose \kə-ˈbüs\

Definition of CABOOSE for Kids

: a car usually at the rear of a freight train for the use of the train crew

Word History of CABOOSE

Caboose is now a railroading word, but its origins lie at sea. When it first appeared in English, in the 1700s, caboose referred to a kitchen—or in sailors' language, a galley—on a ship used in trading. (A train's caboose serves the needs of the crew, just as the galley of a ship does.) The ship's caboose was at first a sort of cabin enclosing a cooking fire on the ship's deck. Caboose was borrowed from Dutch kabuis or kombuis, perhaps a compound word with huis, “house,” as its second part.

Learn More About CABOOSE

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for "caboose"

Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "caboose"

Nglish: Translation of "caboose" for Spanish speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about "caboose"

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