See Also: tram(1)(dictionary)
tram(2)(dictionary)
tram(dictionary)
tram lines(medicine)
trim-tram(dictionary)

tram(2) (iou)



tram noun2 & verb. [tram] E16.
[Middle Low German, Middle Dutch trame balk, beam: ult. origin unkn.]
A. noun.
I.
Either of the two shafts of a cart, wagon, wheelbarrow, etc. Scot. E16.
Either of the two upright posts of a gallows (usu. in pl.); joc. a person's leg. Scot. Now rare. M17.
II.
Orig., a frame, barrow, etc., for the transport of corves in a coalmine. Later, a four-wheeled vehicle used for this purpose. E16.
b. A person in charge of a such tram; the work performed by such a person. M19.
A frame or bench on four legs or blocks, constituting a stand for casks, a workbench, etc. E19.
III. A road, a highway. rare. Only in M16.
Each of a parallel line of wooden, stone, or metal wheel-tracks, in or from a coalmine. E19.
A road with wooden, stone, or metal wheel-tracks, orig. in or from a coalmine. Also tram-road. M19.
IV.
An electrically powered passenger vehicle running on rails laid in a public road or street. Also tramcar. L19.
Comb.: tramcar: see sense A.8 above; tramline (usu. in pl.) (a) a road or rail for a tram; (b) colloq. either of a pair of parallel lines, esp. at either side of a tennis-court (the inner of each pair marking the boundary of the court for singles and the outer for doubles); a similar line at the side or back of a badminton court; (c) an inflexible, predetermined, or restrictive course of action, principle, etc.; tram-plate a flat or flanged iron plate used in a tramway; tram-rail (a) a plate-rail; (b) each of the rails of a tramway; tram-road (chiefly Hist.) (a) a road with wooden, stone, or metal wheel-tracks; (b) a prepared track or narrow railroad for wagons etc., as distinguished from a tramway laid down on a road or street for tramcars; tramway (a) (chiefly Hist.) = tram-road (a) above; (b) a railway laid down on a public road or street for tramcars, as distinguished from a tram-road for wagons etc.; (c) a tramcar system.
b. verb. Infl. -mm-.
verb intrans. & trans. (with it). Travel by tram. rare. E19.
verb trans. Convey coal, ore, etc. by tram (chiefly as tramming verbal noun); cause (a tram) to move. rare. L19.
tramless adjective M19.
trammer noun a person or animal working on a tramway; spec. = PUTTER noun1 1b: M19.
trammie noun (colloq., chiefly Austral. & NZ) the conductor or driver of a tramcar E20.