Dictionary

ferroequinologist en · NOUN

Etymology

From Latin ferrum (“iron”) + Latin equus (“horse”) + English -logist (“one who studies”).

Meanings

1. (humorous, nonstandard) A student of ferroequinology; a person who studies trains as a hobby.
   • The fact that automobiles, buildings, clothing, bridges, watches, locomotives (my personal favorite, being a ferroequinologist!), ad infinitum are designed by people has no bearing whatsoever... 1990 October 19, Bruce Tiffany, “Re: 'America, a Godless State' and 'Barbaric Theists' merged.”, in alt.atheism (Usenet):
   • 1954, Trains, Kalmbach Pub. Co. And because you care, you’ve automatically classified yourself as a railfan (alias railroad enthusiast, train-watcher, ferroequinologist).
   • [E]ven more outrageously, a person heavily into trains is not a trainspotter but a ferro-equinologist (an iron-horsist, no less). 1980, Bill Oddie, Bill Oddie's Little Black Bird Book, page 18:
   • I'd tell you to take the kids on the mixed train.... It was fun even for a raiload^([sic]) victim like me - ferroequinologist father. 1992 August 8, Doretta Hanschka, “Re: Outta here for awhile...^([sic])”, in bit.listserv.words-l (Usenet):
   • It's a schnazzy-looking engine, looks a lot like a GP-35, which I believe our ferroequinologist guru Roger Mitchell says it was rebuilt from. 1991 November 20, Warren T. Brill, “Re: what does this mean?”, in rec.railroad (Usenet):

Forms

Synonyms

railfan (enthusiast)