What was the original difference in the meaning of a convertible and a cabriolet carriage?
The term convertible is really only used for automobiles. The word simply means to convert and refers to the fact that a vehicle can be converted from one with a rooftop to one without a top. The word convertible is the more widely used term in the auto industry today.
The word cabriolet has a French origin that was derived back in the 1800s that referred to a horse-drawn carriage with two wheels and a top that could be pulled over the two occupants of the carriage when adverse weather.
Nowadays, the term cabriolet can be interchanged with convertible and basically means the same thing. Consistency is rare about the current use of cabriolet in preference to convertible.
More Info:
en.m.wikipedia.org
What are your thoughts on this subject?
9 Comments
John McLardie
Not strictly correct. Convertible is the term preferred in the USA and Canada and comes from American English; whereas cabriolet is of French origin. Both terms apply equally to vehicles, no matter how they are powered, that have fold-down roofs. The writer of this question has read more into the Wikipedia reference than is actually there, I feel, and has been selective in applying the reference.
Nicholas Miernicki
John McLardie, Almost all automobile body styles borrow names from horse drawn carriages: sedan, coupe, berlinetta, etc., cabriolet being just one of many. Bad answer and bad reviewers.
Corey Taylor
John McLardie, Yes, but they were counting on the Cabriolet made by Volkswagen to throw folks off!
Matthew Roen
John McLardie, the first mistake they made was relying on Wikipedia for an answer or explanation.
Helga U. Williams
I know cabriolet it is originally a French word, but definitely is used in the German language as the only word describing a convertible!
Mai Skillman
This is a crummy question! Are we talking horse drawn carriage or a motor vehicle? Very poorly worded and thought out.
dan chesters
WRONG correct answer . There is no functional difference between a cabriolet and convertible in modern automobiles. Which word you use generally depends on where you're from. Cabriolet—often shortened to cabrio—is the common name for a convertible in many European countries.
John W Shreve
So cabriolet is a fancy way of saying horse-and-buggy?
Elsy O. Stromberg
Agnes Forder, Most cars were convertibles before the 20's. The Plymouth was just the first with a mechanically operated top.