[F. tonneau, spec. application of tonneau cask, tun: see TONNEL.] Name for the rounded rear body of a motor-car (orig. with the door at the back). Also attrib. Hence Tonneaued a., having a tonneau.
1901. Daily Record & Mail, 26 Dec., 7. The tonneau, which is of the roomiest and most comfortable description, is designed to hold six passengers.
1904. Kipling, Traffics & Discov., 200. It was a big, black, black-dashed, tonneaued twenty-four horse Octopod [motor-car]. Ibid., 322. She knelt at the bottom of the tonneau telling her beads without pause.
1907. Westm. Gaz., 19 March, 4/2. A good tonneau seat is as comfortable as anyone could wish.
