What does landau mean?
A landau is a light, four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage associated especially with elegant travel in the 18th and 19th centuries. Its most characteristic feature was a folding hood, which allowed it to be used in either open or partly enclosed conditions, together with passenger seats arranged so that riders could face one another. Landaus were valued for comfort and style and were used for private journeys, ceremonies, and fashionable excursions. Although they were once familiar vehicles, they eventually gave way to newer forms of transport and are now encountered mainly in historical, museum, and carriage-driving contexts. The word is also retained by equestrian enthusiasts who use it for surviving vehicles or for replicas based on historic designs. Its association with smartness and social distinction gives it a slightly nostalgic tone, while its survival in specialist vocabulary preserves the memory of an important chapter in the history of road travel.
nounA light four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage with a folding hood and passenger seats facing one another. The term is now chiefly historical, though it remains used in carriage and equestrian contexts.
- A light, four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage, usually fitted with a folding hood and seats for passengers facing one another.
"The elegantly dressed guests were driven away from the hotel in an open landau."
"A landau carried the bride and her father from the house to the church."
"The museum restored the 19th-century landau and exhibited it alongside other historic carriages."
The standard plural is landaus, without an additional plural ending such as -es.
"Two restored landaus appeared in the historical carriage parade."
Named after the German town of Landau, this elegant carriage once turned city streets into a stage for conspicuous travel.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does landau come from?
The English word dates to the 17th century and was borrowed from French landau, which in turn came from German Landau. The German term is generally understood to refer to the town of Landau, after which this style of carriage was named. English later applied the name to related carriage designs and retained it after the vehicle had largely disappeared from everyday use.
Related word forms
How landau is actually used
The word is chiefly historical or specialist. In modern general use, it is more likely to occur in descriptions of carriage history, museums, or equestrian traditions than in everyday conversation.