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carabina

carbine

noun kah-rah-BEE-nah Rare
People & Society Military

Origin: From French carabine, origin uncertain; possibly from carabin (cavalry soldier).

Also means

chaperone

Usage Note

Carabina refers to a short-barreled rifle, but in informal usage it also means a chaperone — the third person sent along to accompany an unmarried couple, giving rise to the phrase ir de carabina (to tag along as a third wheel). This idiomatic sense is common in Spain and parts of Latin America.

Examples

"El soldado llevaba una carabina al hombro."

Natural Translation

The soldier carried a carbine on his shoulder.

Literal Translation

The soldier carried a carbine at-the shoulder.

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