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marshalling yard

marshalling yard

7.4
A place by train tracks where workers sort and attach freight cars
  • noun
  • /ˈmɑːrʃəlɪŋ jɑrd/
  • UK
translation icon : estación de clasificación
  • PHOTO (BLACK & WHITE): Upon arrival from Alabama, the pipes were taken to the marshalling yard near the Miramar landfill.

Examples

  • In the marshalling yard, workers efficiently organized the freight cars for the upcoming departures.

  • It began early, as I mentioned yesterday, with a check-in at the truck marshalling yard.

    Blog text (21)
  • Today's target is the marshalling yard located in the eastern coastal city of Catania.

  • The marshalling yard was bustling with trains being assembled and cargo prepared for shipment.

  • After delivering the goods, the driver parked his truck at the nearby marshalling yard to await further instructions.

Synonyms

railyard
vsmarshalling yard
  • Specialized
4 6.5

An area with many train tracks where train cars are kept and repaired

is aimed at assembling trains and loading or unloading goods
train depot
vsmarshalling yard
  • US
3 3.1

A place where trains stop to load people or goods

is used mainly for assembling trains and handling goods rather than passenger service
railway yard
vsmarshalling yard
  • UK
1 3.8

A place with many train tracks where train engines and cars are kept and fixed

is specifically for assembling trains and loading or unloading goods

How Complex

marshalling yard
  • UK
7.4
railway yard
  • UK
1 3.8
siding
  • Specialized
2 6.7

Surface Forms

Morphology

marshal + yard

The phrase is compositionally built from 'marshal' (to arrange) + 'yard' (an area), so a learner who knows both words can infer it denotes a place where things are organized. However, the specialized railway sense (assembling trains and handling goods) is technical and not fully predictable from the constituents alone, making the term only partially transparent to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Marshalling yard comes from the idea of a 'marshal' who puts people or things in order, like soldiers standing in lines, and yard meaning a work area. So a marshalling yard is the place where railway cars are lined up and attached to make trains, which is why the name now means 'a yard for assembling and sorting trains'.