Glove compartment

Glove compartment
Glove compartment of Ford Fusion with owner's manual.
For the sealed container for handling hazardous materials, see glovebox.

A glove compartment or glovebox, also known as a little cupboard, is a compartment built into the dashboard, located over the front-seat passenger's footwell in an automobile, often used for miscellaneous storage. The name derives from the original purpose of the compartment, to store gloves. In most vehicles, the glove compartment closes with a latch, with the option of being locked with a key (often desirable when using valet service, or when parking while the convertible top is down). Gloves were originally worn to keep the hands clean. Driving gloves were considered necessary equipment in early cars, many without a hard top, to prevent the cooling effect of fast-moving air from numbing drivers' hands.

On some vehicles, the inside of the compartment's door may have an area for holding cups when open, and a section for holding a pen or pencil. On some newer cars, the glove compartment is temperature controlled, allowing for its use as a cooler. On others, such as the Toyota Yaris hatchback, multiple glove compartments are provided.

A glove compartment is occasionally referred to as a "jockey box," especially in the U.S. Upper Rocky Mountain states such as Idaho and Montana, but is found as far south as Texas. In South Africa, it is called a "cubby-hole". In Turkey, it is called "Torpedo Compartment".

According to the BBC Four programme "Penelope Keith and the Fast Lady" it was Dorothy Levitt who first coined the phrase 'glove compartment' as she advised motorists to carry a number of pairs of gloves to deal with many eventualities.



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Look at other dictionaries:

  • glove compartment — glove compartments also glove box N COUNT The glove compartment in a car is a small cupboard or shelf below the front windscreen …   English dictionary

  • glove compartment — n. a compartment built into the dashboard of an automotive vehicle, for storing miscellaneous articles …   English World dictionary

  • glove compartment — ► NOUN ▪ a small recess for storage in the dashboard of a motor vehicle …   English terms dictionary

  • glove compartment — noun compartment on the dashboard of a car • Hypernyms: ↑compartment • Part Holonyms: ↑car, ↑auto, ↑automobile, ↑machine, ↑motorcar * * * noun, pl ⋯ ments [count] : a small storage area i …   Useful english dictionary

  • glove compartment — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms glove compartment : singular glove compartment plural glove compartments the small cupboard or shelf in front of the passenger seat of a car …   English dictionary

  • glove compartment — glove′ compart ment n. a compartment in the dashboard of an automobile for storing small items • Etymology: 1935–40 …   From formal English to slang

  • glove compartment — glove com.partment also glove box n a small cupboard in a car in front of the passenger seat, where small things such as maps can be kept …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • glove compartment — glove com,partment or glove ,box noun count the small cupboard or shelf in front of the passenger seat of a car …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • glove compartment — a compartment in the dashboard of an automobile for storing small items. Also called glove box. [1935 40] * * * …   Universalium

  • glove compartment — noun 1939 A compartment recessed in an automobile’s dashboard, that usually has a door and can be locked, intended to hold gloves, papers, etc. Syn: glove box …   Wiktionary

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