PRNDL

English

Etymology

From the letters marked on the gearstick, standing for park, reverse, neutral, drive, low, the gears on a standard automatic transmission.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpɹɪndl̩/
• Rhymes: -ɪndəl
• Homophone: Prindle

Noun

PRNDL (plural PRNDLs)

1. (US, acronym, automotive, informal or humorous) The gearstick in a car with automatic transmission.

   Synonyms: PRNDL1, PRND1, PRND21, PRNODL, PRNODL1, PRNOD21, PRNOD1

   • John A. Kuecken (1980) Handbook of microprocessor applications, page 59: “You could close all the doors, place the PRNDL in Park and start the engine.”
   • James Schefter (1998) All Corvettes Are Red, →ISBN, page 339: “Dave Hill ordered it redone and new PRNDLs were being readied for the next drive out of Milford.”
   • Rick Wenman (2003) Fresh Tracks, →ISBN, page 69: “I pull the gearshift into reverse. Always do it by feel. The PRNDL on top of the steering column quit working as soon as the warranty was up.”
   • Noel B Searle (2011) The Visibly Invisible Man and Other Short Stories, →ISBN, page 9: “Jones settled behind the steering wheel, dutifully securing his seat belt, slipped the PRNDL into Drive and eased out of the driveway.”

See also

• dogleg shifter
• gated shifter
• H-gate shifter
• sequential shifter
• tree shifter