berlin

See also: Berlin, Berliin, berlín, Berlín, and Berlîn

English

Alternative forms

• berline

Etymology

From the name of the German capital city Berlin, where it was invented in the 17th century.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): [bɚˈlɪn]
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /bəˈlɪn/

  • Audio (Southern England)

    (file)

Noun

berlin (plural berlins)

1. A four-wheeled carriage with a separate sheltered seat behind the body.

   Coordinate terms: calèche, landau

   • 1792, Charlotte Smith, Desmond, Broadview, published 2001, page 261:

     I was then giving some instructions about the forwarding my trunk, and was just going to mount my new purchase in the yard of the inn; when a berlin, apparently belonging to a foreigner of distinction, attended by three French or Swiss servants, drove to the door […] .

   • 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Lady Marchmont to Sir Jasper Meredith. Courtiers.”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 263:

     I passed her in his berlin the other day, and just caught a glimpse of very pretty features, with an interesting and sad expression. I believe that she is his wife, because I always believe for the best.

Further reading

• berlin (carriage) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia