checkstring

A cord used by a passenger in a carriage to signal to the driver to slow down or go faster.

Noun

  1. A cord used by a passenger in a carriage to signal to the driver to slow down or go faster.
    • 1864,, William Stephens Hayward, Revelations of a Lady Detective, short story "Incognito", George Vickers, Strand I pulled the check-string, and gave him [the coachdriver] his instructions.
    • Mrs Hurstpierpoint - the dowager of the gleaming brows - leaned forward all at once in the carriage and pulled the checkstring attached to her footman's arm. - 1919, Ronald Firbank, Valmouth, Duckworth, hardback...

Origin

From check + string.

Forms

checkstrings