brougham
A brougham is a light, four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage with an enclosed body for two to four passengers, originally designed in the 19th century. In modern automotive contexts, it refers to a luxury car body style where the driver sits in an open or separate front section while the passengers are enclosed.
Examples
3 of 5We saw a vintage brougham at the state fair's historical parade.
We observed an old-fashioned horse-drawn carriage at the historical parade during the fair.
The ambassador requested a brougham for his formal transit to the inaugural ceremony.
The high-ranking official asked for a private enclosed carriage for his trip to the opening event.
Check out that cool old brougham; it looks like something out of a Sherlock Holmes movie.
Look at that interesting antique carriage; it resembles the vehicles used in Victorian detective stories.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of a 'brougham' as a 'room' on wheels. It is a small, enclosed private room pulled by a horse.
Quick Quiz
The gentleman signaled to his coachman to pull the ____ up to the front of the theater.
Correct!
The correct answer is: brougham
Examples
We saw a vintage brougham at the state fair's historical parade.
everydayWe observed an old-fashioned horse-drawn carriage at the historical parade during the fair.
The ambassador requested a brougham for his formal transit to the inaugural ceremony.
formalThe high-ranking official asked for a private enclosed carriage for his trip to the opening event.
Check out that cool old brougham; it looks like something out of a Sherlock Holmes movie.
informalLook at that interesting antique carriage; it resembles the vehicles used in Victorian detective stories.
The brougham's design prioritized passenger privacy, reflecting the social norms of the Victorian era.
academicThe specific construction of this carriage focused on the privacy of the travelers, showing the social values of the 1800s.
The coach-building firm specialized in custom broughams for the city's wealthiest families.
businessThe company that made carriages focused on creating personalized enclosed vehicles for rich clients.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
brougham carriage
the standard name for the four-wheeled enclosed vehicle
brougham body
a specific style of automobile design
Cadillac Brougham
a famous luxury car model name
Often Confused With
A broom is a tool for sweeping floors, while a brougham is a type of carriage.
Brought is the past tense of the verb 'bring,' whereas brougham is a noun for a vehicle.
Usage Notes
The word is almost exclusively used in historical, literary, or automotive contexts. You will mostly encounter it in 19th-century novels (like those by Dickens or Doyle) or when discussing luxury vintage cars.
Common Mistakes
Learners often struggle with the pronunciation, sometimes trying to pronounce the 'gh'. Remember that the 'gh' is silent, making the word sound similar to 'broom' or 'bro-um'.
Memory Tip
Think of a 'brougham' as a 'room' on wheels. It is a small, enclosed private room pulled by a horse.
Word Origin
The carriage was named after Lord Brougham, a British statesman who designed and commissioned the first model in 1838.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
The brougham was a status symbol for the upper and middle classes in Victorian London, representing a shift toward private, enclosed urban transport.
Quick Quiz
The gentleman signaled to his coachman to pull the ____ up to the front of the theater.
Correct!
The correct answer is: brougham
Related Words
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