limousine
UK[ˌlɪm.əˈziːn]US[ˈlɪm.ə.ziːn]
n
a large, expensive, and comfortable car, usually driven by a chauffeur and often with a partition separating the driver from the passengers.
n
a large passenger vehicle, especially one with a long wheelbase and luxurious appointments, used for group transportation.
Etymology
the word 'limousine' entered english from french in the early 20th century. it originally referred to a type of closed automobile with a covered compartment for the driver, reminiscent of the cloaks worn by shepherds in the limousin region of france. the name of the region, derived from the gallo-roman tribe the 'lemovices', thus became associated with this protective covering. over time, the term evolved from describing a specific carriage style to denoting any large, luxurious, chauffeur-driven vehicle, shifting its semantic focus from the driver's enclosure to the opulence and privacy afforded to the passengers.
Analysis
the word is a loanword from french and is not productively segmented into meaningful morphemes in english. the french suffix '-ine' is a typical adjectival or noun-forming suffix, but the root 'limous-' does not carry an independent meaning in modern english.
Examples
they hired a white limousine to take the wedding party to the reception.
the airport shuttle service uses a spacious limousine to transport guests to the downtown hotels.
arriving at the premiere in a stretch limousine, the actor was immediately surrounded by photographers.