Omnibusses

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A vehicle designed to accommodate multiple passengers at once, typically with rows of seats and often used for public transport or private hire
2. A large motor vehicle for carrying numerous passengers, often operating on predetermined routes and schedules in urban areas
3. A type of bus that serves to transport large groups of people collectively, frequently utilized for tours, charters, or public transit purposes

Etymology: The word "omnibuses" is simply the plural of "omnibus," so its story is really the story of the root. In the early nineteenth century, a long, horse-drawn carriage with seats for many passengers was given a Latin-sounding name that translated roughly as "for all." The French phrase "voiture omnibus," meaning "carriage for all," was borrowed into English, and the first word was clipped away, leaving "omnibus" to stand alone for the vehicle itself. The Latin source is the dative plural of "omnis," meaning "all," so the grammar of the original phrase was built into the name. "For all" was a promise of open access: anyone willing to pay the fare could climb aboard, which set it apart from private carriages. The plural "omnibuses" follows the regular English pattern for words ending in "-us," which is why it appears alongside the older form "omnibusses" in some sources.