pantechnicon
UK: panˈtɛknɪkən | US: pænˈtɛknɪkən
n. a large van or truck used for transporting furniture and other household goods.
pantechnicon = pan<all> + techn<art, skill> + icon<house>
- pan (from Greek pan, meaning "all")
- techn (from Greek tekhnē, meaning "art, skill")
- icon (from Greek oikos, meaning "house," via Latin icon as a suffix)
Etymology Origin:
The word pantechnicon was coined in the early 19th century as the name of a London warehouse (the "Pantechnicon") designed to store all kinds of artistic and skilled crafts. Over time, it came to refer to the large vehicles used to transport goods from such warehouses. The term blends Greek roots to suggest a place (or vehicle) for "all arts and crafts."
The movers loaded our furniture into a pantechnicon for the long-distance relocation.
In Victorian London, pantechnicons were a common sight on busy streets.
The antique dealer hired a pantechnicon to deliver the fragile items safely.
Modern pantechnicons are equipped with advanced suspension to protect delicate goods.
The word "pantechnicon" is rarely used today, replaced by terms like "moving van."