Word
pullman
Phoneticspull·man
/ˈpʊɫmən/
Definitions
01luxury train car
n. a comfortable and expensive train car where passengers can sleep or relax during long trips.
n. A high-end railroad passenger car, typically a sleeping car, designed for comfort on long-distance journeys. Often used to refer to the specific brand of cars operated by the Pullman Company.
“The wealthy travellers spent the night in a private Pullman as the train crossed the country.”
“By the early twentieth century, the Pullman had become the gold standard for luxury rail travel, offering amenities that rivalled those of fine hotels.”
American English · Archaic
Usage
Usually functions as a countable noun; often capitalized when referring to the specific company brand.
Teaching tip
This term is largely historical or literary today. In modern travel, people usually say 'sleeper car' or 'first-class carriage'.
Synonyms
02a luxury train
n. a whole train made up of these luxury cars.
n. A complete train consisting entirely or primarily of Pullman coaches.
“The morning Pullman arrived at the station exactly on time.”
“The company operated a daily Pullman between London and the coast, catering exclusively to a wealthy clientele.”
British English · Archaic
Usage
Commonly used in mid-20th century British English to refer to specific luxury service lines.
Teaching tip
Note that while the company was American, the term became quite common in the UK for specific luxury boat trains and expresses.
Synonyms
Etymology
Ellipsis of Pullman car, after the Pullman Palace Car Company, named after American engineer and industrialist George Pullman (1831–1897).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/pullman