a. [f. TRAIN sb.1 + -LESS.]
1. Having no train; devoid of a train (as a robe, a meteor, a peacock).
1832. Hampshire Advertiser, 6 Oct., 3/3. The increased temperature at the end of the month is generally attributed to the near approach to the earth’s orbit of the nebulous trainless periodic comet of 63/4 years.
1864. Leeds Mercury, 23 Dec., 2/6. On certain occasions ladies who present themselves at Court are expected to so in trains—manteaux de Cour.… The trainless wives of grand functionaries, of Senators, and Deputies, could not well be refused admittance at the door.
1868. Lockyer, Elem. Astron., xxiv. § 303. 132. There was a region in which the meteors appeared trainless,… because they were directly approaching us.
1873. Daily News, 7 Nov., 5/4. Priests whose trainless gowns showed they belonged to the order of Jesuits. Ibid. (1904), 21 Nov., 4. The peacock … that less than a month ago was a dowdy, trainless bird, has grown a ‘tail’ of bewildering beauty.
2. Devoid of (railway) trains; on which no trains are running.
1859. Kingsley, Misc., Agric. Crisis, II. 195. The money will be … surely in a better place than … in repudiated loans and trainless railroads.
1900. Westm. Gaz., 25 Aug., 4/3. Only two [railway] systems are now trainless.
