grand touringn.adj.
/ˌɡrand ˈtʊərɪŋ/, U.S. /ˌɡrænd ˈtʊrɪŋ/ A. n.
1. The action of making a grand tour. Cf. grand tour n.
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1828 G. Ensor Lett. showing Inutility of ‘New Reformation’ vii. 73 In the Catholic Church, there is..no grand touring, perambulating the ecclesiastical domain, north and south, first as rectors and then as bishops.
1901 Academy 26 Jan. 79/2 Not at all the kind of writing one associates with eighteenth century Grand Touring, is it?
1990 T. M. Curley in J. McVeagh All before Them 1660–1780 206 Sterne's knowledge of such educational goals in grand touring is indicated by their full enumeration in Sermon V.
2. Short for grand touring car at sense B.; = gran turismo n., grand tourer n. 2.
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society > travel > means of travel > a conveyance > vehicle > powered vehicle > motor car > [noun] > touring car
touring-car1903
tourer1927
grand tourer1955
grand touring1957
gran turismo1960
1957 Motor 20 Mar. 222/1 The category of car known as Grand Touring.
1977 Cars & Trucks 49 24/2 The Grand Touring is a four-passenger hatchback designed as a prestige car.
1999 Engineering Nov. 48/1 The technical regulations for the 24 Heures Du Mans distinguish between two main types of car: ‘Prototypes’ and ‘Grand Touring’ (GT).
2012 San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News (Nexis) 13 Mar. Price wise the CX-9 Grand Touring is out of my league.
B. adj.
(attributive) Designating a high-performance car, originally a luxury vehicle of the sort used for touring, later often a sports version of a standard model (abbreviated GT). Chiefly in grand touring car. Cf. gran turismo n., grand tourer n. 2.
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1903 Autocar 4 Apr. 16/3 (advt.) Daimler 12 h.p. Tonneau, dark green,..recently overhauled, and in splendid running order; grand touring car, prize winner.
1912 Motor Body, Paint & Trim 48 44 The open style is called a grand touring phaeton.
1956 Motor 2 May 256/2 Special Series Touring Cars and Normal Series Grand Touring Cars.
1970 Pop. Mech. Jan. 91/1 The C-lll could be the immediate predecessor of a grand-touring sedan for you and me.
1994 Vanity Fair July 38 (advt.) It's equally gratifying as a grand-touring sports car.
2005 Car & Driver Aug. 97/1 The 575M coupe is one of the world's great grand-touring cars.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, December 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.1828