Camboose

/kæmˈbuːs/ noun

Definition

A variant spelling of caboose, the last car on a freight train where the crew works and lives.

Etymology

From Dutch 'kombuis' meaning galley or kitchen. The word traveled through maritime trade languages before being adopted into American railroad terminology in the 19th century, originally referring to the ship's galley before being applied to trains.

Kelly Says

The Dutch word for 'kitchen' became the English word for a railroad car—this happened because early American railroads borrowed heavily from nautical terminology and organization, treating their trains like ships on land.

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