The plural of caboose

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I know the term cabeese is popular on this board as the plural form of caboose as in goose and geese. But why not follow the plural of moose which is moose. One caboose, two caboose. On the other hand, why use animals to derive the plural of caboose. For example, the plural of noose is nooses. So it is logical that cabooses is the plural form of caboose. Which term do you prefer?

2

Way cars! Hacks Crummies. etc. . .

3

I don’t know, I’ve always loved the term “Cabeese”.

In fact, at one point “Cabeese” became my nickname (although short lived)

4

According to Encarta, it is “cabooses”.

5

Let’s coin a new one. How about “cabbi”? [:)]

Ron

6

We could always go back to calling them “CABIN CARS”

7

Crummies?

8

Well the plural of Elvis is Elvi…

9

cabooses

10

Then the plural of papooses would be papeese? Or what…?

11

Isn’t cabeese the Italian word for understand? Cabeese?

12

Preference has nothing to do with it. There is a correct answer, just take your thoughts one step farther. Trace the origins of each of the examples you gave, then match it to the origin of caboose and there is the answer.

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=&TOPIC_ID=51360
http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?page=1&TOPIC_ID=62668

13

I just say cabooses I haven’t talked to any of my old Engli***eachers in ages.

14

cabeese sounds like a flock of birds…cabooses sounds like more than one caboose. [:D]

15

I like the one that one of the guys in rec.models.railroad came up with when we dicsussed this over there- he took a Hebrew approach: chabusim.

16

I think cabooses is correct, but cabeese has a certain ring to it. However if they don’t run then the are kapoot.

17

I think the origin is Dutch; possibly cabhuis? for the cabin on a ship. My Dutch is not even up to the point of plurals, so someone else will have to help.
Cabeese is usually used tongue-in-cheek.

18

How about “obsolete”? [:D]

19

Tag lines from a doggerel on this subject from many years ago:

“All this talk, “Caboose - cabeese,” just proves that we are dummies.
Those funny cars that end the trains are better known as, “Crummies.””

Or, more recently, FRED.

Chuck (who runs brake vans)

20

Here they are called Cabin Cars. The accepted pural is Cabooses.

Nick