wagon

Everyday

1. A vehicle with four wheels, pulled by horses or oxen, used to carry heavy loads or people. tree →
2. An open railway truck that carries goods (UK). tree →
3. A child's small cart pulled by a handle (US, a little red wagon). tree →
4. (informal, US) A station wagon, a car with a long back. tree →
5. «On the wagon» (informal): not drinking alcohol. tree →

In the lessons

In history (settlers' covered wagons, wagon trains), trains (coal wagons), play (pulling a wagon), and maths (a train with 12 wagons, each carrying 20 tonnes). Phrases: «covered wagon», «wagon train», «on the wagon», «fix someone's wagon» (old).

Examples

• The settlers crossed the plains in covered wagons. tree →
• The horse pulled the hay wagon. tree →
• The goods train had 30 wagons. tree →
• Each wagon carries 15 tonnes, so 4 wagons carry 60 tonnes. tree →
• I pulled my little sister in the red wagon. tree →
• (informal) Uncle Jim is on the wagon this month. tree →
• The wagon was filled with corpses. tree →

Note

Countable. Old British spelling «waggon». In the UK, a railway «wagon» carries goods and a «carriage» carries people; in the USA both are often «cars». In maths: total load = number of wagons × load per wagon.

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah, covered carts that carried the Tabernacle's parts and that Joseph sent to bring his family to Egypt.

Interpretation. The wagons given to the Levites carried the Tabernacle's heavy parts. The wagons of Joseph were read as a sign to Jacob that Joseph was still alive.

Examples

• And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites. (Torah NUM.7.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their service. (Torah NUM.7.7, JPS 1917) tree →
• And the sons of Israel did so; and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way. (Torah GEN.45.21, JPS 1917) tree →
• Nay, he will not ever be threshing it; and though the roller of his wagon and its sharp edges move noisily, he doth not crush it. (Prophets ISA.28.28, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable. Old British spelling «waggon». In the UK, a railway «wagon» carries goods and a «carriage» carries people; in the USA both are often «cars». In maths: total load = number of wagons × load per wagon.