also: ぎっしゃ · うしぐるま
noun
ox-drawn carriage; oxcart
Historical term, primarily referring to the ox-drawn carriages used by Heian-era nobles. In modern contexts, it may simply mean an oxcart.
平安時代の貴族は牛車で移動した。
Heian-era nobles traveled by ox-drawn carriage.
この絵巻には牛車が描かれている。
An ox-drawn carriage is depicted in this picture scroll.
Kun'yomi reading, rarely used.
馬車 is a horse-drawn carriage, while 牛車 is specifically an ox-drawn carriage.
Compound of 牛 (ox) and 車 (vehicle). The reading ぎゅうしゃ is the standard on'yomi, while ぎっしゃ is a variant and うしぐるま is the kun'yomi reading.