What does "caboose" mean?
A small galley or cookhouse on the deck of a small vessel.
Caboose
/kəˈbuːs/ noun, slang
noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A small galley or cookhouse on the deck of a small vessel.
- Grammar: caboose is listed as noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: baggage car, bakehouse, bakery, bastille.
- Useful contrasts: anterior, front, front car.
- Usage evidence: On the second day out, while sailing moderately on our course in the Gulf Stream, a sudden squall of wind struck the ship from the SW. and knocked her completely on her beam-ends, stove one of our boats, entirely destroyed two others, and threw down the cambouse.
How to use "caboose"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "caboose" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "caboose" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "caboose" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "caboose" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "caboose" is acting as noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "baggage car" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "caboose", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A small galley or cookhouse on the deck of a small vessel. obsolete
- 2 a car on a freight train for use of the train crew; usually the last car on the train wordnet
- 3 A small sand-filled container used as an oven on board ship. historical
"On the second day out, while sailing moderately on our course in the Gulf Stream, a sudden squall of wind struck the ship from the SW. and knocked her completely on her beam-ends, stove one of our boats, entirely destroyed two others, and threw down the cambouse."
- 4 the area for food preparation on a ship wordnet
- 5 The last car on a freight train, consisting of cooking and sleeping facilities for the crew; a guard’s van. US
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 The buttocks. childish, euphemistic, slang
"That's a pretty big caboose for a baby."
- 7 The person or team in last place. slang
- 8 A youngest child who is born after a long gap in time. in-compounds, informal, often
"Jimmy was seven and had just finished first grade, so that made Nancy our caboose baby — our bonus child — our swan song."
Example
"On the second day out, while sailing moderately on our course in the Gulf Stream, a sudden squall of wind struck the ship from the SW. and knocked her completely on her beam-ends, stove one of our boats, entirely destroyed two others, and threw down the cambouse."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "caboose"?
Common synonyms include: baggage car, bakehouse, bakery, bastille, box, boxcar.
How do you use "caboose" in a sentence?
On the second day out, while sailing moderately on our course in the Gulf Stream, a sudden squall of wind struck the ship from the SW. and knocked her completely on her beam-ends, stove one of our boats, entirely destroyed two others, and threw down the cambouse.
How do you pronounce "caboose"?
Pronounced /kəˈbuːs/.
Etymology
From Dutch kabuis, kombuis (“galley, kitchen”) or German Low German Kabüüs (“galley”), from Middle Dutch cabûse and Middle Low German kabûs, kabûse respectively. Cognate with German Kabüse, Kombüse, Danish kabys, Swedish kabyss, French combuse (< Middle Dutch kabuys). Probably related to English boose (“a stall or shed”).