What is a chariot in Charles Dickens?

[a35362]

I'm still reading Nicholas Nickleby and Mrs. Nickleby gets into a "chariot" to go somewhere. The only chariot I am aware of is the Ben-Hur kind. Surely this would not have been what Dickens was talking about in 19th century London.

Anybody have any info, and illustrations?

[Kimstu]

It means basically some kind of carriage, i.e., a wheeled non-motorized vehicle. See this bewildering array of names for different kinds of carriages and chariots.

[silenus]

Here are the basics.

[Kimstu]

Here's a Chariot Horse Carriage from 1809.

[a35362]

Youse guys are incredible. Wow. silenus, I actually looked up that book in your link, Carriages at Eight: Horse-Drawn Society in Victorian and Edwardian Times on Amazon and bought a copy, just because I'm that kind of history nerd. "...has lots of information on the etiquette of carriages and how to ride in them." I might need to know that one day.

[salinqmind]

There was mention of a 'charabanc' in the book "Little Women", which they planned to hire as sort of a taxi for a group. They facetiously called it a 'cherry-bounce'.

[BrotherCadfael]

Think of how the car you drive reflects your status. Think of the stereotypes associated with the Volvo vs. a full-sized pickup truck vs. a minivan.

The connotations of class and personality associated with the myriad varieties of horse-drawn conveyance are similar to those associated with automobiles today.

[Elendil's Heir]

I remember in Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskervilles, there's mention of a dog-cart, which I later learned is not actually pulled by a dog: http://sherlockholmesofstcharles.blo...-dog-cart.html

(And hey, it's Conan Doyle's 153rd birthday!)