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firewagon

An older American informal term for a fire engine, dating from the era of horse-drawn apparatus.

ˈfaɪɹˌwɔɡənhistorical153 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
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#1·Apr 28, 2026

An older American informal term for a fire engine, dating from the era of horse-drawn apparatus. The word evokes the clatter and urgency of 19th-century urban firefighting. Today it survives in nostalgic or colourful colloquial use, occasionally applied to modern fire trucks with a knowing nod to its age.

The kids pressed against the fence as the old firewagon rounded the corner, bells clanging.
Origin: Compound of 'fire' + 'wagon', reflecting the horse-drawn fire apparatus of the 19th-century United States. Editorial expansion authored on Slangora.
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#2·Apr 27, 2026

(US) A fire engine.

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