carriage

plural carriages

1. countableuncommonuncountableThe act of conveying; carrying.

   The remainder of the men were employed in unbarreling our Pork and stringing it on poles for convenience of carriage, and carrying our Batteaux from the river to the pond.

   1867, Simeon Thayer, Edwin Martin Stone, The Invasion of Canada in 1775, page 6

2. countableuncountableA means of conveyance.
3. countableuncountableA (mostly four-wheeled) lighter vehicle chiefly designed to transport people, generally drawn by horse power.

   The carriage ride was very romantic.

   Antonyms: wagon

4. UKabbreviationcountableellipsisuncountablerail transportEllipsis of railway carriage (“a passenger railroad car, or any railroad car”).

   When the long, hot journey drew to its end and the train slowed down for the last time, there was a stir in Jessamy’s carriage. People began to shake crumbs from their laps and tidy themselves up a little.

   1967, Barbara Sleigh, Jessamy, Sevenoaks, Kent: Bloomsbury, published 1993, →ISBN, page 7

5. countableuncountableThe manner or posture in which one holds or positions a body part, such as one's arm or head.

   The runner has a very low arm carriage.

6. archaiccountableuncountableA manner of walking and moving in general; how one carries oneself, bearing, gait.

   a tall woman with a beautiful upright carriage.

   5 more examples

   His carriage was full comely and vpright, / His countenaunce demure and temperate [...].

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto I”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC

   In spite of her erect carriage she could flop to her knees to pray as smart as any of us.

   1942, Emily Carr, “Characters”, in The Book of Small, Toronto, Ont.: Oxford University Press, →OCLC

   Cavett: What would it take – seriously – for a musician to be good enough to play in the Miles Davis bands? Suppose you're looking for a new guy. Davis: Well, the first thing he needs do – whoever he is – has to have good carriage, you know. Cavett: Meaning? Davis: Meaning that they have to look like what they're going to play – the instrument.

   1986 October 7, Miles Davis, The Dick Cavett Show

   She [Maya Angelou] towered over everyone and exuded a power that I had not recognized in anyone other than my mother. It was in her height. It was in her carriage. It was in her voice. And, I said to myself, 'This is woman to be reckoned with.'

   2009, Cicely Tyson, Leading Women: Maya Angelou, season 1, episode 5

   He chose to speak largely about Vietnam [...], and his wonderfully sonorous voice was as enthralling to me as his very striking carriage and appearance.

   2010, Christopher Hitchens, Hitch-22, Atlantic, published 2011, page 90

7. archaiccountableuncountableOne's behavior, or way of conducting oneself towards others.

   Some people whisper but no doubt they lie, / For malice still imputes some private end, / That Inez had, ere Don Alfonso's marriage, / Forgot with him her very prudent carriage [...].

   1819, Lord Byron, Don Juan, section I

   2 more examples

   I had almoſt forgotten to acquaint your honor, that one major Alford (who was in mr. Love's conſpiracy) was of the graund inqueſt at Saliſbury, and was very zealous in his highneſſe ſervice here, and his good affection and wiſe carriage here, did much advantage the buſſineſe.

   1655 April 21, “Mr. Ja. Nutley to ſecreary Thurloe.”, in A Collection of the State Papers of John Thurloe, Eſq; […], volume III, London: […] the Executor of the late Mr. Fletcher Gyles; Thomas Woodward, […] Charles Davis, […], published 1742, page 399

   He now assumed a carriage to me so very different from what he had lately worn, and so nearly resembling his behaviour the first week of our marriage, that […] he might, possibly, have rekindled my fondness for him.

   1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society, published 1973, page 407

8. countableuncountableThe part of a typewriter supporting the paper, the part of a machine tool such as a lathe that guides the bit as it cuts or otherwise manipulates the workpiece.
9. New EnglandUScountableuncountableA shopping cart.
10. UKcountableuncountableA stroller; a baby carriage.
11. countableuncountableA gun carriage.
12. countableuncountableThe charge made for conveying (especially in the phrases carriage forward, when the charge is to be paid by the receiver, and Carriage Paid To).

    Synonyms: freight, freightage, cartage, charge, rate

13. archaiccountableuncountableThat which is carried, baggage.

    And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren.

    1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Samuel 17:22