noun

wain

WAYN/wˈeɪn/

An old-fashioned wagon or cart.

The wooden wain carries a large load of hay on four spoked wheels.

A large traditional farm hay wagon with four wooden spoked wheels and a broad timber bed stacked with hay, clearly a substantial farm wain.
Etymology

The Old English word meant a wheeled vehicle or cart generally. In later usage, wain came to distinguish a large, open vehicle for heavy loads, especially agricultural ones.

In context

1st Art Gallery com1:11
which depicts a hay wagon (also called wain) as it stops midstream, perhaps to let the horses cool themselves.
CONSTABLE COUNTRY: The Hay Wain by John Constable

More examples

  • The farmer loads hay onto the wain.
  • The museum displays two restored wains.
  • One wooden wheel on the old wain needs repair.

Forms

wain · wains

Similar words

wagon
The usual term for a four-wheeled vehicle carrying goods.
cart
Often a smaller, two-wheeled vehicle used for carrying goods.