auto-, comb. form2
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Etymology:
Shortened < automobile adj. In later formations influenced by auto n.5 (which is first attested slightly later). Compare French auto- (formations in which are found from the beginning of the 20th cent., e.g. autophobe person who is afraid of motor cars, autophobie fear of motor cars (both 1900), autobus bus, motor coach, auto-école driving school (both 1906), etc.), Italian auto- (formations in which are found from the early 20th cent., e.g. autopompa fire engine (1910), autobotte car used to transport liquids (1918)).
Found in a small number of formations from the end of the 19th cent. With autocar compare French autocar motor coach, (now rare) bus (1906; < English).
Prefixed to the names of vehicles with the sense 'self-propelled; powered by motor', as autobus, autocab, autocar, etc.
1895 Aberdeen Weekly Jrnl. 15 Nov. 5/2
A Glasgow engineer, George Johnson..is now running an autocar in the streets of that city.
1897 N.Y. Herald 19 Sept. 2/1
The introduction of an efficient autocab service in the streets of Paris.
1900 G. D. Hiscox Horseless Vehicles xi. 212
The Canda auto-quadricycle.
1904 Westm. Gaz. 23 Sept. 7/3
Mr. W. K. Vanderbilt, junior's auto-boat ‘Mercédès the Sixth’.
1918 W. Stevens Let. 30 Apr.
(1967)
208,
I must wait..for an auto-bus back to Johnson City.
1927 South Amer. May 137/2
The auto-coach is much needed to replace the horse-coach.
1941 A. Koestler Scum of Earth 206
The regular autobus line Bergerac-Bordeaux still functioned.
1994 L. A. Graf Traitor Winds vii. 91
Sulu, go flag us an autocab that can take us to Hopkins.
1895—1994(Hide quotations)
