What is "parlor car"

Car \Car\, n. [OF. car, char, F. cahr, fr. L. carrus, Wagon: a Celtic word; cf. W. car, Armor. karr, Ir. & Gael. carr. cf. Chariot.]

1. A small vehicle moved on wheels; usually, one having but two wheels and drawn by one horse; a cart.

2. A vehicle adapted to the rails of a railroad. [U. S.]

   Note: In England a railroad passenger car is called a railway carriage; a freight car a goods wagon; a platform car a goods truck; a baggage car a van. But styles of car introduced into England from America are called cars; as, tram car. Pullman car. See Train.

3. A chariot of war or of triumph; a vehicle of splendor, dignity, or solemnity. [Poetic].

   The gilded car of day.
   --Milton.

   The towering car, the sable steeds.
   --Tennyson.

4. (Astron.) The stars also called Charles's Wain, the Great Bear, or the Dipper.

   The Pleiads, Hyads, and the Northern Car.
   --Dryden.

5. The cage of a lift or elevator.

6. The basket, box, or cage suspended from a balloon to contain passengers, ballast, etc.

7. A floating perforated box for living fish. [U. S.]

   Car coupling, or Car coupler, a shackle or other device for connecting the cars in a railway train. [U. S.]

   Dummy car (Railroad), a car containing its own steam power or locomotive.

   Freight car (Railrood), a car for the transportation of merchandise or other goods. [U. S.]

   Hand car (Railroad), a small car propelled by hand, used by railroad laborers, etc. [U. S.]

   Horse car, or Street car, an omnibus car, draw by horses or other power upon rails laid in the streets. [U. S.]

   Palace car, Drawing-room car, Sleeping car, Parlor car, etc. (Railroad), cars especially designed and furnished for the comfort of travelers. [1913 Webster] ||

Parlor \Par"lor\, n. [OE. parlour, parlur, F. parloir, LL. parlatorium. See Parley.] [Written also parlour.]

1. A room for business or social conversation, for the reception of guests, etc. Specifically:

   1. The apartment in a monastery or nunnery where the inmates are permitted to meet and converse with each other, or with visitors and friends from without.
      --Piers Plowman.

   2. In large private houses, a sitting room for the family and for familiar guests, -- a room for less formal uses than the drawing-room. Esp., in modern times, the dining room of a house having few apartments, as a London house, where the dining parlor is usually on the ground floor.

   3. Commonly, in the United States, a drawing-room, or the room where visitors are received and entertained; a room in a private house where people can sit and talk and relax, not usually the same as the dining room.

      Note: ``In England people who have a drawing-room no longer call it a parlor, as they called it of old and till recently.''
      --Fitzed. Hall.

2. A room in an inn or club where visitors can be received.

   Parlor car. See Palace car, under Car.

n. a passenger car for day travel; you pay extra fare for individual chairs [syn: parlour car, drawing-room car, palace car, chair car]

A parlor car (or parlour car outside the United States of America) is a type of passenger coach that provides superior comforts and amenities when compared to a standard coach.