Sedan chairs were a popular mode of transportation in the 18th and 19th centuries. However, with the passage of time, this term has become less common among the general public. There are several synonyms for sedan chairs that are frequently used nowadays such as palanquin, litter, carriage, chaise, and coach. These words are commonly used to describe different types of transportation which are designed to carry people from one place to another. The word palanquin is often used in South Asian countries like India and Pakistan; while litter is a term that is used to describe a small, covered carriage designed to carry one or two people. The term carriage is a more general term which covers any type of four-wheeled, passenger-carrying vehicle.