Pilentumn.
/pᵻˈlɛntəm/, U.S. /pəˈlɛn(t)əm/ 1. Roman History. A comfortable chariot used by women and in sacred rites.
ΚΠ
1585 J. Higgins tr. Junius Nomenclator 266/2 Pilentum..an hanging waggon: a stately waggon for ladies and gentlewomen: a coch.
1791 A. Adam Rom. Antiq. 547 A carriage in which matrons were carried to games and sacred rites, was called Pilentum, an easy soft vehicle.
1870 J. Yates in W. Smith Dict. Greek & Rom. Antiq. (ed. 2) 919/1 The pilentum was probably very like the Harmamaxa and Carpentum, but open at the sides, so those who sat in it might both see and be seen.
1930 J. W. Mackail in Virgil Aeneid 440 (note) The word subvehitur implies, without directly stating, that this is a ritual procession in pilenta, four-wheeled covered carriages, such as those described in viii. 666.
1997 Jrnl. Rom. Stud. 87 73 Vergil..clearly has the matronae in their pilenta and at a religious occasion.
2. A type of low, open carriage, fashionable in the early 19th cent. Now historical.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > cart, carriage, or wagon > carriage for conveying persons > [noun] > types of carriage > low carriage > types of
Pilentum1819
herdic1882
1819 Times 6 May 1/2 A Pilentum, or Lady's Accelerator.—The Nobility and Gentry are respectfully informed that this novel and elegant little vehicle..is now exhibiting at 97, Pall-mall.
1843 Ainsworth's Mag. 4 100 If I could have built a mother for myself, as one does a Brougham or pilentum.
1946 O. Sitwell Scarlet Tree i. 15 Gone already from the scene were chariots..gone were the pilentum, the britska, the Clarence.
1974 F. Selwyn Cracksman on Velvet ii. 76 On its indiarubber bearings..the swan's neck Pilentum seemed to roll in air above the glittering spokes of its wheels.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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