noun
landau
LAN-daw/ˈlændɔː/
A carriage with a roof that folds back over its passengers.
The landau has facing benches beneath a two-part folding leather roof.
Etymology
The carriage is commonly explained as named after Landau, where it was first made. The source also reports a competing derivation from Spanish lando, a light four-wheeled carriage drawn by mules.
In context
For the next hour they were busily engaged perfecting their arrangements. These were scarcely completed before a gorgeous landau drove up to the house, and Belton reported that the footman had alighted and was ascending the steps.
More examples
- Two horses pull the landau through the park.
- Several landaus wait outside the palace gates.
- The vintage landau automobile has a folding roof over its rear seats.
Forms
landau · landaus