▪ I. trailer, n.
(ˈtreɪlə(r))
Also 6 trailor, 6–7 traylor.
[f. trail v.1 + -er1.]
1. One who trails or drags something.
| 1808 Sporting Mag. XXXII. 134 The trailer indolently drags his stick after him. 1864 Realm 13 Apr. 2 Some trailer of coat-tails, looking out for a head to break. |
† 2. One who travels on foot (
cf. trail v.
1 7);
esp. a footpad.
Obs. slang.| 1591 Greene Art Conny Catch. ii. (1592) 4 Some base Priggar that..is a Trailer. The Trailer is one that goeth on foot. |
3. A hound, or a huntsman, that hunts by the trail; one that follows a trail, a tracker.
| 1590 Cokaine Treat. Hunting B ij, You must chuse out..two couple to be trailors of an olde Foxe and finders of him. 1590 [see trail n.1 8]. 1859 Marcy Prairie Trav. v. 173, I have seen very few white men who were good trailers. 1899 Scribner's Mag. XXV. 16/1 The Texas Rangers..were splendid shots, horsemen, and trailers. 1903 Forest & Stream 24 Jan. 74/2 Bloodhounds..are not at all superior to the fox⁓hound as trailers. |
4. a. Something that trails, drags along, or hangs draggling;
esp. a trailing plant or branch (
cf. creeper); in
quot. 1613–39, a trailing decoration. Also
fig.| 1613–39 I. Jones in Leoni Palladio's Archit. (1742) II. 45 This single Traylor does well, because of the Distance. 1832 Tennyson Eleänore 38 Many a deep-hued bell-like flower Of fragrant trailers. 1870 Lowell Study Wind. 15 A pair of orioles built on the lowest trailer of a weeping elm. 1880 I. L. Bird Japan I. 173 An ocean of trees entangled with a beautiful trailer. 1882 Garden 11 Feb. 106/3 Mikania pulverulenta..is a pretty trailer. 1898 J. London Let. 6 Dec. (1966) 8 Sent out in this mail, ‘trailers’ after articles I mailed last September. 1941 H. G. Wells You can't be too Careful iii. i. 114, I join with Mrs Richard Tewler in deploring the inaudibility of Mrs Humbelay. If only we could have heard those lost trailers of hers, we might have benefited greatly from her..wisdom. 1952 G. Raverat Period Piece vi. 112 This remark was..a sort of trailer, which she hoped might lead to more information. |
b. orig. in
Cinematogr. An excerpt of a film, broadcast, etc., used as advance publicity. Also
transf. and
fig.| 1928 N.Y. Times 11 Mar. viii. 6 A trailer, a few hundred feet of film announcing a forthcoming picture. 1930 Dancing Times July 360/2 In a ‘trailer’ advertising the film, it is announced that the producers have aimed more at entertainment than historical accuracy. 1941 B.B.C. Gloss. Broadcasting Terms 33 Trailer, microphone announcement or short descriptive broadcast, designed to advertise a forthcoming programme or other event of broadcasting importance. 1942 Punch 4 Mar. 169/1 The war..has only just started. The trailer will have given you an idea of what it will be like. 1959 New Statesman 21 Mar. 403/2 A quasi-newscaster, giving verbal trailers of coming attractions, does not fulfil this function. 1959 Washington Post 26 Dec. a19/2 Then some wisenheimer from the agency decided we needed a trailer. 1966 Listener 19 May 737/1 Whether there is much point in playing a section of a work, except as a trailer, is another matter. 1971 Daily Tel. 28 Jan. 1/1 Mr Barber, Chancellor of the Exchequer, used a lunch-time speech yesterday as a ‘trailer’ for the White Paper on Public Expenditure..which is to be published this afternoon. 1977 J. Aiken Last Movement i. 9 The evening's sunshine was only a trailer for spring. 1978 Radio Times 28 Jan.–3 Feb. 70/1 Once upon a time, in the cinema of my youth, there were trailers—unblushingly commercial attempts to lure in the customers by juxtaposing all the dangerous and sexy bits of the film and overlaying them with the most blatant sales pitch of plots and star appeal. |
5. The rear wheel of a front-driven bicycle, or one of the rear wheels of a locomotive, as opposed to the
driver or driving-wheel; a trailing-wheel.
| 1884 Cycl. Tour. Cl. Gaz. Nov. 341/2 The specimen..has a driving wheel of 36 inches, and a trailer measuring 24 inches. 1895 Model Steam Engine 58, 2nd, drivers or driving-wheels; 3rd, trailers or trailing wheels [of a locomotive]. 1906 Westm. Gaz. 25 Sept. 7/1 The Atlantic engine..had four driving wheels, two rear wheels which are called trailers, and four wheels in front of the drivers. Only the driving and trailing wheels had brakes. |
6. a. A rail or road car designed to be drawn along by a motor vehicle; now
usu. an unpowered vehicle towed behind a car or truck, etc.;
spec. (chiefly
U.S.)
= caravan 4.
b. A small carriage, usually a light chair on wheels, drawn along behind by a bicycle or tricycle.
| 1890 Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch 5 Aug., The line is to start with five motor cars for winter service, with some ‘trailers’ for excursion business. 1900 Engineering Mag. XIX. 737 By the adoption of a steam waggon and trailer, a full load of 5 tons being carried into Manchester twice a day. 1901 Scotsman 2 Mar. 12/5 The motor car, or motor car and trailer now so familiar in tramway practice. 1909 Times 9 July 3/3 He was in a trailer attached to a motor-tricycle. 1926 Kansas City (Missouri) Star 11 June, On the Victory highway most any day now one may see the migratory harvesters—a few walking,..more with their families in cars, and a trailer behind, carrying tents, bedding, and cooking utensils. 1931 J. H. Stone Caravanning & Camping-Out x. 64 These trailer-caravans are made so exceedingly light..that a low-power motor can draw them with ease. A trailer runs on two wheels or four. 1951 W. Faulkner Requiem for Nun 246 Living now (with now a wife..and..after that a wife and children) in automobile trailers or G.I. barracks on the outskirts of liberal arts colleges. 1966 Listener 9 June 839/3 The first motor-diesel vessel to carry caravans—or, as the Americans call them, trailers—across the ocean is now being designed here in San Francisco. 1976 New Yorker 17 May 31/1 The miniature control room of a big white mobile broadcast trailer. 1977 P. Way Super-Celeste i. 44 Family men from Sydney..on a fishing weekend—their wives..in the trailers in the park. |
c. trailer-on-flatcar, used to denote a system of freight transport whereby trailers (and other unaccompanied road freight vehicles) are carried on railway cars.
Cf. piggy-back adv. phr. (a.,
n.) b (b).
orig. U.S.| 1954 [see piggy-back adv. phr. (a., n.) b (b)]. 1964 [see TOFC s.v. T 6 a]. 1979 Railway Gaz. Internat. Aug. 719/2 Piggyback, otherwise known as trailer-on-flatcar (TOFC), has proved to be an area of strong..growth. |
7. A kind of self-acting brake consisting of a prop attached to the rear of a vehicle, to catch on the ground and prevent the vehicle from running backwards down an incline; also called a
stopper.
| 1877 in Knight Dict. Mech. |
8. A vessel used about 1800 in mackerel-fishing, having long poles or outriggers on each side, with baited lines about 20 fathoms long fastened to them.
9. attrib. and
Comb., as (sense 4 b)
trailer film; (sense 6 a)
trailer-car,
trailer caravan,
trailer-coach,
trailer hitch [
hitch n. 6],
trailer-wagon;
trailer camp U.S., an area where caravans may be temporarily or permanently parked; similarly
trailer court,
park;
cf. caravan park,
site s.v. caravan n. 4;
trailer home U.S. = mobile home s.v. mobile a. 1 h; also
trailer house;
trailer tent, a tent which is attached to and erected on a trailer;
trailer-truck U.S., an articulated lorry;
cf. tractor-trailer s.v. tractor 4.
| 1921 Outing Apr. 39/2 (Advt.), Union Trailer Camp... Whether a week-end jaunt or a vacation tour, this outdoor palace makes it a real one... Your car can draw it easily. 1980 M. Gordon Company of Women (1981) iii. 254 Mothers bringing their children up in trailer camps. |
| 1930 Motor Body Building LI. 98/1 There are, of course, already a considerable number of trailer caravans standardised by body builders specialising in this type of vehicle. 1931 [see sense 6 a above]. 1979 W. H. Canaway Solid Gold Buddha xi. 77 The trailer..served him as living quarters and producer's office... He woke to find the trailer-caravan in darkness. |
| 1939 E. S. Gardner D.A. draws Circle (1941) xiv. 273 How about taking these folks down to the trailer court, Bill? 1979 Arizona Daily Star 5 Aug. (Advt. Section) 14/5, 56 space Travel Trailer Court on Wetmore near new shopping center. Can be converted to regular trailer court. |
| 1941 Electronic Engin. XIV. 412 The ‘trailer’ film, interspersed with regular features, has been recognised by a number of manufacturers as a valuable advertising medium. 1953 C. Armstrong Catch-as-catch-Can viii. 69 Do you understand how a trailer hitch operates? 1972 D. E. Westlake Bank Shot viii. 58 It has a trailer hitch... It doesn't have any wheels. |
| 1940 H. G. Wells New World Order 180 In such large open countries as the United States there has been a considerable development of the mobile home in recent years. People haul a trailer-home behind their cars and become seasonal nomads. 1979 T. Gifford Hollywood Gothic xxx. 303 He followed her into the neat little trailer home. |
| 1954, 1969 Trailer house [see mobile a. 1 h]. 1975 Budget (Sugarcreek, Ohio) 20 Mar. 16/2 They move into a trailer house located on his son-in-law, Ben Peachys farm. |
| 1947 Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City) 21 Sept. d6/1 The verdict may well point to a bust in the boom enjoyed this year by the nation's tourist camps, hotels, motels, trailer parks,..and restaurants. 1979 Arizona Daily Star 5 Aug. b1/6 A talented cook and editor of her trailer-park newsletter, Rosaaen said she knows why so many women like her are working today. |
| 1971 Rand Daily Mail 4 Sept. 10/4 The largest selling trailer tent in Scandinavia... Independent suspension,..easy towing and light weight make it easy on your car. 1981 West Lancs. Even. Gaz. 25 Apr. 9 (Advt.), Trailer tent. |
| 1958 A. Budrys Edge of Sea in Aldiss & Harrison Decade the 1950s (1976) 54 A long-haul trailer-truck driver. 1976 Trailer-truck [see rig n.6 3 b]. |
| 1904 Daily Chron. 12 May 3/3 The Act of 1896..limited the weight of a motor-car to three tons unladen, and of a motor with trailer-wagon to four tons. |
Add:
[9.] trailer-sailer Austral. and
N.Z., a small sailing boat which can be transported on a trailer.
| 1973 Motor Boating & Sailing Jan. 170/1 (heading) Equipment for a 21-foot *trailer-sailer. 1976–7 Sea Spray (N.Z.) Dec./Jan. 66/1 The resurgence of this class..points up the lack of a viable family centreboard boat other than a trailer sailer for fresher conditions. 1981 Advocate (Tasmania) 19 June 27 The senior fleet would be divided into the trailer-sailer, centreboard dinghies and catamaran classes. |
▸
trailer trash n. orig. and chiefly
U.S. (
derogatory and
offensive) a poor, lower-class white person typified as living in a mobile home; such persons collectively; (also, in extended use) any person or persons leading an itinerant lifestyle;
cf. earlier
white trash at
trash n.1 4.
| 1943 Public Opinion Q. 7 452 ‘I came from a little town just like this one,’ a trailer camp woman told me. ‘There we had a nice home, and my husband and I were respected members of the community. Here people turn their noses up at me as *trailer trash, and I have stopped going to church.’ 1984 Nat. History Mar. 42 They view themselves as a community asset and are, therefore, extremely sensitive to charges that they are irresponsible trailer trash. 1993 R. Lowe & W. Shaw Travellers 64 Getting the permission's the hard bit, getting past all the narrowminded people who don't want trailer trash down the road. 1997 Cincinnati Enquirer 23 Nov. b1/1 A San Francisco store last year offered up the Anti-Barbie line, including Trailer Trash Barbie with a cigarette dangling from her mouth and dark roots in her platinum blonde hair. |
▪ II. ˈtrailer, v. [f. the n.] 1. trans. a. To advertise or publicize in advance,
esp. by the use of excerpts.
| 1965 Observer 5 Sept. 36/1 French 1964 vintages..are already trailered in some American liquor stores as ‘the most heralded vintage of the century’. 1977 Time Out 28 Jan.–3 Feb. 5/4 Originally scheduled for broadcast last April and ‘trailered’ on the air, it has never in fact been run. 1979 Internat. Jrnl. Sociol. of Law Feb. 99 The book is reminiscent of a Hollywood film, in the sense of its having been extensively trailered. 1983 Daily Tel. 27 Aug. 29/2 The Winds of War Preview, excerpts from the series which does not start for another fortnight and has already been heavily trailered. |
b. Chiefly
N. Amer. and
Austral. To transport on a trailer.
| 1971 Islander (Victoria, B.C.) 31 Jan. 7/2 For most of us, snowmobiling requires that we frequently trailer our machines from where we live to more suitable operating locales. 1976–7 Sea Spray (N.Z.) Dec./Jan. 55/3 Cover for a vessel while being trailered may be overlooked. 1977 Austral. Sailing Jan. 48/1 (Advt.), A little ship like the Marieholm is easy to trailer. 1984 Gainesville (Florida) Sun 27 Mar. 6b/1 An end to being trailered, to wearing halters, bridles, bits and saddles. |
2. intr. a. To travel or live in a trailer.
b. To give advance publicity.
| 1974 Listener 17 Jan. 93/3 [They] give up trailering around and settle back near the old folks. 1975 Time Out 22 Aug. 3/3 Trailering with stuff like ‘The Leisure Press At Bay’. |
Hence
ˈtrailered ppl. a., towing a trailer, having a trailer (sense 6 a) attached.
| 1965 ‘W. Haggard’ Hard Sell ix. 97 The oil came up from Genoa in convoys of trailered lorries. |