Limousine
/ˌlɪməˈziːn/noun
A large luxury passenger car, typically driven by a chauffeur and separated from the driver by a partition.
Did you know?The word originally referred not to a stretch car, but to a covered vehicle associated with Limousin in central France; its modern luxury meaning emerged later.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Gaul
Gaulish
Lemovices
“Name of the Celtic tribe inhabiting the Limousin region; its exact meaning is uncertain, though it may involve a word for “elm.””
Roman period
Latin
Lemovices
“Roman rendering of the name of the local Gaulish tribe.”
Medieval period
Old Occitan
Lemosin
“The region and people of Limousin in central France.”
18th Century
French
limousine
“A type of covered carriage associated with Limousin, reportedly resembling the region’s traditional hooded cloak.”
Early 20th Century
French
limousine
“An enclosed automobile body style, with the driver separated from the passengers.”
Modern English
English
limousine
“A chauffeur-driven luxury car, often elongated and fitted with a partition between driver and passengers.”