caboose
4 synonyms for caboose, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The last car on a freight train, once used as sleeping and cooking quarters for the crew.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use caboose
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
red caboose
the family caboose
Etymology
From Dutch kabuis/kombuis ("ship's galley"), which also gave German Low German Kabüüs — the train sense grew from the idea of a small onboard kitchen.
Full origin of caboose →Frequently asked questions
What does “caboose” mean?
The word “caboose” means the last car on a freight train, once used as sleeping and cooking quarters for the crew. In plain terms, the trailing car of a freight train; informally, a last-born child or, slangily, the backside.
How do you pronounce “caboose”?
“Caboose” is pronounced kuh-BOOS (/kəˈbuːs/ in IPA).
How do you use “caboose” in a sentence?
Here is “caboose” used in a sentence: “Kids waved as the red caboose rattled past.”
What part of speech is “caboose”?
“Caboose” is a noun.
Where does the word “caboose” come from?
The word “caboose” comes from German. From Dutch kabuis/kombuis ("ship's galley"), which also gave German Low German Kabüüs — the train sense grew from the idea of a small onboard kitchen.
How many meanings does “caboose” have?
“Caboose” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the last car on a freight train, once used as sleeping and cooking quarters for the crew.
