charabancs

Noun

charabanc (plural charabancs)

1. (UK, historical) A horse-drawn, and then later, motorized omnibus with open sides, and often, no roof.
   • A little further on, to the right, was a large garage, where the charabancs stood, half in and half out of the yard.1931, Francis Beeding, “2/2”, in Death Walks in Eastrepps

   Synonyms:

   chara

2. (UK, dated) A bus, especially one hired by groups for pleasure outings, what was later called a coach.
   • Oh shit, there goes the charabanc!
     Looks like I'm gonna be stuck here the whole summer1977, “Peaches”, performed by the Stranglers
3. (UK, informal) A vehicle that is slow, overcrowded, or otherwise undesirable.
   • We return to the charabanc of a car to find a swarm of children dancing round it, clambering up the back, jumping on the step; the driver sleeps peacefully at the wheel, oblivious of their shrieks.1951, Ethel Mannin, South to Samarkand, page 109
4. An elaborate production or endeavor involving many people or things.
   • For all their lean and hungry look, and for all they wear the simplest of dhotis around their loins, they usually have clever accomplices in the crowd, and a whole charabanc full of invisible wires and concealed cabinets.2013, David Ovason, The Zelator

See all 5 meanings of charabanc