caboose

noun

Etymology: From Dutch kabuis, kombuis (“galley, kitchen”) or German Low German Kabüüs (“galley”), from Middle Dutch cabûse and Middle Low German kabûs, kabûse respectively. Cognate with German Kabüse, Kombüse, Danish kabys, Swedish kabyss, French combuse (< Middle Dutch kabuys). Probably related to English boose (“a stall or shed”).

1. A small galley or cookhouse on the deck of a small vessel.
2. A small sand-filled container used as an oven on board ship.

   “On the second day out, while sailing moderately on our course in the Gulf Stream, a sudden squall of wind struck the ship from the SW. and knocked her completely on her beam-ends, stove one of our boats, entirely destroyed two others, and threw down the cambouse.”

   “This stove is to be made in the form of a Franklin, but is to be furnished with an oven, and other means of cooking; its appearance is therefore more like that of the old fashioned caboose, than of a Franklin stove.”

3. The last car on a freight train, consisting of cooking and sleeping facilities for the crew; a guard’s van.
4. The buttocks.

   “That's a pretty big caboose for a baby.”

5. The person or team in last place.
6. A youngest child who is born after a long gap in time.

   “Jimmy was seven and had just finished first grade, so that made Nancy our caboose baby — our bonus child — our swan song.”

   “"Caboose" children, the late-born last offspring in the family, didn't suffer from this as much.”