E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Trap.
A carriage, especially such as a phäeton, dog-cart, commercial sulky, and such like. It is not applied to a gentleman’s close carriage. Contraction of trappings (whatever is “put on,” furniture for horses, decorations, etc.).
1
“The trap in question was a carriage which the Major had bought for six pounds sterling.”—Thackeray: Vanity Fair, chap. lxvii.
Traps. Luggage, as “Leave your traps at the station,” “I must look after my traps,” etc. (See above.)
2
“The traps were packed up as quickly as possible, land the party drove away.”—Daily Telegraph.
