Adoption

      A few years ago, my father, who is a historian, showed me a prized possession of his.  It was an 1838 edition of "Webster’s Dictionary".  I find old things of great interest, so I started to carefully flip through its pages.  At that time I was a manager of a body shop; thus, automobiles were brought to mind.  I turned to the C’s and dubiously started looking for the word 'car'.  It wouldn’t be there, but it would be fun to look in a dictionary before the invention of automobiles just to see its absence.

 Surprise, Surprise, Surprise

     Imagine my surprise when the word 'car' was there as it is in the modern dictionary. The difference was the definition. It read as follows:

 “car  n. [w-car] 1. A small vehicle moved on wheels usually drawn by one horse. 2. In poetical language, any vehicle of dignity or splendor; a chariot of war, or of triumph.” 

       It was only logical when the new invention of the motorcar came along, it would continue on with the name that had previously applied to its predecessor.  This was actually a progression of meaning, in the same manner 'coach' is used today.  A greyhound bus is called a 'coach' today, just like the stage coach of old.
        

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