pram

UK: /ˈpræm/ US: (pram; Naut. präm)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

pram¹  (pram), n. [Chiefly Brit. Informal.]

1. British Terms perambulator.

• by shortening 1880–85

pram²  (präm), n. 

1. Nautical, Naval Terms a flat-bottomed, snub-nosed boat used as a fishing vessel or tender for larger vessels.

• •Slavic; compare Czech prám, Polish prom, Russian paróm, Serbo-Croatian prȁm ferryboat, raft, cognate with Old High German farm boat, raft, Old Norse farmr freight, cargo; akin to fare, ferry
• Dutch praam, Middle Dutch prame, praem (compare Middle Low German pram(e), Old Frisian pram, German Prahm)
• 1540–50 (late 14th century in Anglo-Latin)

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

pram / præm/ noun

1. a cot-like four-wheeled carriage for a baby
   US and Canadian term: baby carriage

Etymology: 19th Century: shortened and altered from perambulator

pram / prɑːm/ noun

1. a light tender with a flat bottom and a bow formed from the ends of the side and bottom planks meeting in a small raised transom

Etymology: 16th Century: from Middle Dutch prame; related to Old Frisian prām