charabanc
Sign in to savethumb|Charabanc, late 19th century thumb|Royal Charabanc of Maria II of Portugal A charabanc or "char-à-banc" (often pronounced "sharra-bang" in colloquial British English) is a type of horse-drawn vehicle and an early motor coach, usually open-topped, common in Britain during the early part of the 20th century. The term remains in use for some public service vehicles in a small number of countries.
Article
9 sectionsContents
- History
- Motorized charabancs
- English day outings
- Modern usage of the term
- Cultural references
- See also
- References
- Further reading
- External links
thumb|Charabanc, late 19th century thumb|Royal Charabanc of Maria II of Portugal A charabanc or "char-à-banc" (often pronounced "sharra-bang" in colloquial British English) is a type of horse-drawn vehicle and an early motor coach, usually open-topped, common in Britain during the early part of the 20th century. The term remains in use for some public service vehicles in a small number of countries.
Traditionally, a charabanc has "benched seats arranged in rows, looking forward, commonly used for large parties, whether as public conveyances or for excursions". It was especially popular for sight-seeing or "works outings" to the country or the seaside, organised by businesses once a year. The name derives from the French ("carriage with benches"), the vehicle having originated in France in the early 19th century.