sick-wagon

Noun

sick-wagon (plural sick-wagons)

1. (historical) a covered wagon used to convey or transport those who are sick in a wagon train
   • The sick-wagon appeared only a silver dot in the crimsoning distance. Except for her son, the black woman was along in the wagon.2010, Earnest "Tex" Sims Sr., Once Upon A Time in the Past: The Sons of Sam Logan, page 30
2. (dated) a vehicle used to convey or transport those who are sick or injured
   • This corps is divided into companies, one for each division of .the army corps ; and, duly supplied with sick-waggons, store-carts, and litters, is placed entirely at the disposal of the medical officers.1871, The Contemporary Review, volume 16, page 605
   • A few more improvements are very essential, such as a new flooring for the Male Wards and Dispensary; another ambulance in place of the sick wagon, as a call for ambulance is often received while it is responding to a previous one, the only resort then being to forward the sick wagon, a vehicle not...1879, New York (N.Y.). Dept. of Public Charities and Correction, Annual Report of the Commissioners of Public Charities and Correction of the City of New York, number 20
3. (nonstandard, rare) a (modern) ambulance
   • A hundred and twenty-eight ambulances were provided for the Fourth corps, and yet the fear of the disgrace of having been carted in the sick wagon, and the general good assurance of the men that they are going on no fools errand, kept the men square up to the regiment.1868, Frank Moore, The Rebellion Record
   • They operated a carrying service from “sick wagon” to “hospital” for those patients with infected feet who could not stand and for those who were too weak to walk.1945, Air Force Magazine, page 28