Standard Lemma guide

three-on-the-tree

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

On an automobile (especially those produced from 1939 through the mid-1970s), a three-speed manual transmission whose gearshift lever is a column shifter (mounted on the steering column) (R-N-1-2-3).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, idiomatic

Topics: automotive, transport, vehicles

Examples

  • 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 transmissions.
  • His old car was a three-on-the-tree. Now he drives a four-on-the-floor.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

On an automobile (especially those produced from 1939 through the mid-1970s), a three-speed manual transmission whose gearshift lever is a column shifter (mounted on the steering column) (R-N-1-2-3).

A vehicle with such a transmission.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, idiomatic, metonymically

Topics: automotive, transport, vehicles

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.