Word: truck Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *dʰregʰ- Proto-Indo-European *drem-influ. Ancient Greek τρέχω (trékhō) Ancient Greek -ῐ́λος (-ĭ́los) Ancient Greek τροχῐ́λος (trokhĭ́los) Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-i-eh₂ Proto-Hellenic *-íā Ancient Greek -ία (-ía) Ancient Greek -είᾱ (-eíā) Ancient Greek τροχῐλείᾱ (trokhĭleíā)der. Medieval Latin trochleader. Anglo-Norman troclebor. Middle English trokel English truckle? English truck Perhaps a shortening of truckle, related to Latin trochus (“iron hoop, wheel”) from Ancient Greek τροχός (trokhós). Pronunciation: /tɹʌk/, /tɹʊk/ 1. A small wheel or roller, specifically the wheel of a gun carriage. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: “Put that cannon up once, and I'll answer for it that no Injin faces it. 'Twill be as good as a dozen sentinels,” answered Joel. “As for mountin’, I thought of that before I said a syllable about the crittur. There's the new truck-wheels in the court, all ready to hold it, and the carpenters can put the hinder part to the whull, in an hour or two.” 2. The ball on top of a flagpole. Labels: countable, uncountable 3. On a wooden mast, a circular disc (or sometimes a rectangle) of wood near or at the top of the mast, usually with holes or sheaves to reeve signal halyards; also a temporary or emergency place for a lookout. "Main" refers to the mainmast, whereas a truck on another mast may be called (on the mizzenmast, for example) "mizzen-truck". Labels: countable, uncountable Example: But oh! shipmates! on the starboard hand of every woe, there is a sure delight; and higher the top of that delight, than the bottom of the woe is deep. Is not the main-truck higher than the kelson is low? 4. A heavier motor vehicle designed to carry goods or to pull a semi-trailer designed to carry goods; (in Malaysia/Singapore) a such vehicle with a closed or covered carriage. Labels: Australia, Canada, India, US, countable, uncountable Example: We rented a truck big enough to carry the whole load in one trip. Example: A line of fifty trucks from the Zenith Steel and Machinery Company was attacked by strikers-rushing out from the sidewalk, pulling drivers from the seats, smashing carburetors and commutators, while telephone girls cheered from the walk, and small boys heaved bricks. 5. A railroad car, chiefly one designed to carry goods. Labels: UK, countable, uncountable 6. Any smaller wagon or cart or vehicle of various designs, pushed or pulled by hand or (obsolete) pulled by an animal, used to move and sometimes lift goods, like those in hotels for moving luggage or in libraries for moving books. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: Goods were therefore conveyed about the town almost exclusively in trucks drawn by dogs. Example: He closed the door, locked it, and took out the key in readiness. When Mr Lidmarsh returned with the water he found Carrados seated on a market truck. 7. Abbreviation of railroad truck or wheel truck; a pivoting frame, one attached to the bottom of the bed of a railway car at each end, that rests on the axle and which swivels to allow the axle (at each end of which is a solid wheel) to turn with curves in the track. Labels: US, abbreviation, alt-of, countable, uncountable 8. The part of a skateboard or roller skate that joins the wheels to the deck, consisting of a hanger, baseplate, kingpin, and bushings, and sometimes mounted with a riser in between. Labels: countable, uncountable 9. A platform with wheels or casters. Labels: countable, uncountable 10. Dirt or other messiness. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: “Nothing! Look at your hands. And look at your mouth. What is that truck?”