three-on-the-tree

English

Alternative forms

• 3-on-the-tree

Pronunciation

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

Noun

three-on-the-tree (plural three-on-the-trees)

1. (US, idiomatic) On an automobile (especially those produced from 1939 through the mid-1970s), a three-speed manual transmission whose gearshift lever is mounted on the steering column.

   In driver's education, they used to teach students to drive in cars with a three-on-the-tree, but now the cars all have automatic transmission.

See also

• four-on-the-floor