When I first read the query, I remembered from my days as an English
Country peasant that a Shooting Brake was synonymous with "Station
Wagon" as used in Yankeeland or "Estate Car" as used in Britain.
I used to hear the term used so often, I was smug with myself waiting
for all the various replys (some are indeed funny...) some of you
have already made. But then I too realised I knew absolutely nothing
when it came down to the nitty-gritty of explaining _why_ its called
a Shooting Brake!
Well, it seems that we all have assumed that the "Shooting" part is
to do with the Landed Gentry's fondness for downing a few birds as
a means of some sport. We have assumed that the vehicle in question
is assigned to convey these ol' sports to their task.
So someone designed this vehicle, I assume, and wanted to give it a
fancy name. "Shooting Car"? Hmmmm, not fancy enough!
I have taken the liberty of looking up the word "brake" in my little,
but reliable Collins English Gem Dictionary. A "brake" it seems, is
a "large wagonette"!!!
So there you go! Not a "Shooting Car/Truck/Wagon" but a Wagonette.
Hmmmm, what the blinkin' 'eck is a wagonette, I wondered and continued to
peruse my Collins.
A "wagonette" (or "waggonette") is; a four-wheeled open carriage with
lengthwise seats.
Vait un minut!!! "Open carriage"? I don't remember any Shooting Brake
being open or topless like some convertible. Well, perhaps not. But
that is some fancy name, huh? Should keep folks guessing for years! :-)
PS: Now if I was real smart I would have looked up "Shooting Brake" in
my Collins to start. But I didn't. I looked it up last... and there is
no entry for it!
Garry Archer Esq. archer@hsi.com
3M Health Information Systems, Wallingford, Connecticut, U.S.A.
"An Englishman never enjoys himself, except for a noble purpose." - A.P.Herbert
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