The story
From German Tragschnabelwagen (literally “carrying-beak-wagon”), because of the usually tapered shape of the lifting arms, resembling a bird's beak.
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Schnabel car
Today it means: A specialized railroad freight car designed to carry heavy and oversized loads in such a way that the load makes up part of the car, being suspended in the middle by lifting arms connected to an assembly of span bolsters that distribute the weight over many wheels. Full definition →