One-horse shay
The
one-horse shay is a light, covered, two-wheeled carriage for two persons, drawn by a single horse. The body is chair like in shape and has one seat for passengers positioned above the axle which is hung by leather braces from wooden springs connected to the shafts. The one-horse shay is an American adaptation, originating in Union, Maine, of the French
chaise. The
one-horse shay is colloquially known in America as a
one-hoss shay. A smaller and more lightly constructed version of the one-horse shay is called a chair or
whiskey because it can "whisk" around other carriages and pass them quickly. Another version of the
whiskey, known as a
whisky, is constructed exceptionally light in weight for the purpose of allowing it to be drawn by small ponies or light horses. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. memorialized the shay in his satirical poem "The Deacon's Masterpiece
or The Wonderful One-Hoss Shay". A fictional Deacon crafted this wonderful one-hoss shay in such a logical way that it could not break down. The shay was constructed from the very best of materials so that each part was as strong as every other part.