noun Uncommon

Bradshaw

Bradshaw (noun) means (historical, British) A well-known railway timetable and travel guide, published under the name George Bradshaw until it ceased in 1961. Example: “Victorian travelers consulted their Bradshaw before boarding any train.”

noun

(historical, British) A well-known railway timetable and travel guide, published under the name George Bradshaw until it ceased in 1961.

"Victorian travelers consulted their Bradshaw before boarding any train."

verb

(rare) To find one's way by following railway lines, in the manner of someone using a Bradshaw guide.

"Lost in the countryside, they simply bradshawed their way back toward the station."

name

A surname of English origin, taken from several place names in northern England.

"Mr. Bradshaw taught history at the local grammar school."

How to use Bradshaw

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishBest known historically as the name of Britain's standard railway timetable; also a common English surname.

Word forms

Bradshawed past tense, Bradshaws plural, Bradshaws singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “Bradshaw” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Victorian travelers consulted their _____ before boarding any train.

Etymology

The place name comes from Old English brād ("broad") plus sceaga ("thicket"), giving "broad thicket"; the famous railway guide was named after its publisher, George Bradshaw.

Origin: Old English

Frequently asked questions

What does “Bradshaw” mean?

The word “Bradshaw” means (historical, British) A well-known railway timetable and travel guide, published under the name George Bradshaw until it ceased in 1961. In plain terms, best known historically as the name of Britain's standard railway timetable; also a common English surname.

How do you use “Bradshaw” in a sentence?

Here is “Bradshaw” used in a sentence: “Victorian travelers consulted their Bradshaw before boarding any train.”

What part of speech is “Bradshaw”?

Depending on how it is used, “Bradshaw” can be a noun, a verb and a name.

Where does the word “Bradshaw” come from?

The word “Bradshaw” comes from Old English. The place name comes from Old English brād ("broad") plus sceaga ("thicket"), giving "broad thicket"; the famous railway guide was named after its publisher, George Bradshaw.

Is “Bradshaw” a common word?

“Bradshaw” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “Bradshaw” have?

“Bradshaw” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: (historical, British) A well-known railway timetable and travel guide, published under the name George Bradshaw until it ceased in 1961.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include Bradshaw:

Words that end with W