combi

noun

com·​bi ˈkäm-bē 

plural combis

1

: a device or vehicle having two or more functions or capabilities

Combis haul between 30 and 35 tons of cargo, along with 275 passengers …

—Jeffrey Leib, The Denver Post, 27 Dec. 1998

Monday, he polishes the collection of copper-bottomed pots and cleans the "combi"—a multi-tiered stand-alone convection and steam oven in which bread is baked.

—Domenica Marchetti, The Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2014

—often used before another noun

She roasts the pork in a combi oven, which blasts waves of heat, first moist then dry.

—Kim Severson, The New York Times, 3 Feb. 2010

2

: a skiing competition combining two events : combined

Known as the super combi, it is composed of one downhill run, usually held in the morning, followed by an afternoon slalom run.

—Kelley McMillan, The New York Times, 4 Feb. 2012

Word History

Etymology

short for combination entry 1 (probably after German Kombi, short for Kombinationskraftwagen "motor vehicle able to carry both cargo and passengers," applied especially to models of the Volkswagen Type 2 van first manufactured in 1950)

First Known Use

1956, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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