phaeton
(ˈfeɪɪtən, ˈfeɪtən)
[a. Gr. ϕαέθων shining, used in Gr. mythology as proper name of the son of Helios and Clymene, famous for his unlucky driving of the sun-chariot.]
† 1. allusively. A rash or adventurous charioteer like Phaethon; any charioteer; something that, like Phaethon, sets the world on fire.
| 1593 Nashe Four Lett. Confut. Wks. (Grosart) II. 242 That hee should talke of gnashing of teeth, yong Phaetons, yong Icari, yong Chorebi, young Babingtons. 1629 Leather 13 Euerie priuate Gentleman now is a Phæton, and must hurrie with his thundring Caroch along the Streetes. 1692 Watson Body of Div. 862 Sin is the Phaeton that sets the World on Fire. 1747 Gentl. Mag. XVII. 94 If the hackney⁓man should grumble, I fear our Phaeton must tumble. |
2. A species of four-wheeled open carriage, of light construction; usually drawn by a pair of horses, and with one or (now generally) two seats facing foward; but applied to carriages variously modified and distinguished as
Stanhope,
mail,
park,
dog-cart,
pony phaeton, etc.
| [1735 Machines approuvées par l'Acad. Sc. VI. 3 Chaise de Poste dont on peut faire un Phaeton.] 1742 Young Nt. Th. v. 819 Like Nero,..drives his phaeton, in female guise. 1747 Miss Talbot Lett., to Miss Carter 18 Aug. (1809) I. 201 A fashionable post chaise or phaeton. 1794 Felton Carriages (1801) II. 68 The sizes and constructions of Phaetons are more various than any other description of carriages. 1844 Act 7 & 8 Vict. c. 91 Sched., Every horse..drawing any coach,..barouche, chaise, phaeton, vis-a-vis, calash. 1872 Black (title) Strange Adventures of a Phaeton. 1880 Mrs. Forrester Roy & V. II. 16 Are you going to drive your phaeton this afternoon? |
† 3. A name for the planet Jupiter. (So in French.)
| 1631 Widdowes Nat. Philos. 11 Jupiter is a bright Plannet..being neere the earth, of which he is called Phaeton. |
4. attrib. and
Comb.| 1679 J. Goodman Penit. Pard. i. v. (1713) 125 Fancy gets the ascendant, and Phaeton-like, drives on furiously and inconsistently. 1883 Standard 7 Feb. 2/5 The carriage was described as a phaeton-wagonette. |
Hence
phaetoˈneer [
cf. charioteer], driver of a phaeton;
phaeˈt(h)onian = sense 1;
phaeˈthonic,
† phaeˈthonical,
† phaeˈthontal,
phaeˈthontic,
† phaeˈthontical adjs., belonging to, characteristic of, or resembling, Phaethon (see etymology above).
| 1890 Sat. Rev. 23 Aug. 244/1 A merry time had our *phaetoneer. |
| 1784 Macneill Poet. Wks. (1812) I. 69 No female *Phaetonians then Surpassed the boldest of our men In gesture, look and straddle. |
| 1708 Brit. Apollo No. 7. 2/2 Or would'st with *Phaetonick Pride, Within the Solar Chariot Ride? |
| c 1630 Risdon Surv. Devon §45 (1810) 52 Which *phæthonical fact of his deserves the name of Nody. |
| a 1649 Drummond of Hawthornden Poems Wks. (1711) 37 Po burns no more with *Phaetontal fire. |
| 1658 J. Jones tr. Ovid's Ibis 1st Ded., How *Phaetontick spirits break their necks. 1829 Lamb Let. to Gilman Dec., I fear their steed, bred out of the wind without father..hot, phaetontic. |
| 1630 R. Johnson's Kingd. & Commw. 509 Achmat..is left at this present to manage the Horses of this *Phaëtonticall Chariot. |