caleche

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a light, low-wheeled horse-drawn carriage, typically fitted with a folding top

   A four-horse caleche carried the travelers along the mountain road.

2. 2
   noun

   the folding hood of a carriage, or a woman's large hood shaped like one

   She raised the caleche to protect her elaborate hairstyle from the rain.

Borrowed from French calèche, also written caleche in English. The French word came through German Kalesche from a Slavic diminutive meaning "little wheeled vehicle," related to Polish kolasa. The hood and headdress senses developed from the carriage's folding top.

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