caboose

Where does the word "caboose" come from? It comes from Middle Dutch kabuis, passing through English before entering English (1850s).

Caboose’s story begins in Middle Dutch: kabuis meant “ship's galley.” A ship's galley or cooking cabin. By 1740s, the word had taken hold in English as caboose. First a ship's galley. It reached English by 1850s as caboose. Transferred to the crew car at the rear of a freight train. Today, caboose means the crew's car at the end of a freight train.

1. Stage 1 · Middle Dutch · medieval kabuis "ship's galley", a ship's galley or cooking cabin.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1740s caboose "ship's galley", first a ship's galley.
3. Stage 3 · American English · 1850s caboose "rear train car", transferred to the crew car at the rear of a freight train.