tarantass

• tarantas

From Russian таранта́с (tarantás).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /taɹənˈtas/

tarantass (plural tarantasses)

1. A low horse-drawn carriage without springs used in Russia, capable of having its wheels replaced with runners during the winter.
   • 1868, “Route 25: London to Pekin […] ”, in Handbook for Travellers in Russia, Poland, and Finland, 2nd edition, London: John Murray, page 329:

     Three kinds of conveyances are available: the telega, or cart without springs, which has to be changed at every station, and for which a charge of about 8d. is made at every stage; the kibitka, or cart (in winter a sledge) with a hood; and the tarantas, a kind of carriage on wooden springs, which admits of the traveller lying down full length, and which can be made very comfortable at night.

   • 1990, Peter Hopkirk, The Great Game, Folio Society, published 2010, page 396:

     From Samarkand, using that peculiarly Russian means of transport, the springless, horse-drawn tarantass, Curzon reached Tashkent by the post road in thirty uncomfortable hours.