taxicab

noun

taxi·​cab ˈtak-sē-ˌkab How to pronounce taxicab (audio)
: an automobile that carries passengers for a fare usually determined by the distance traveled

Examples of taxicab in a Sentence

took a taxicab to the airport
Recent Examples on the Web After asking for a ride through the open window of a taxicab, the woman climbed into the back seat. Dan Morse, Washington Post, 30 Jan. 2024 But it was defeated, mainly by Jesse Gaddis, who held the exclusive taxicab franchise at the airport. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2024 On Monday, Tiffany & Co. unveiled a $50,000 clock inspired by a 1950s New York City taxicab, dubbed The Tiffany Taxi. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 12 Dec. 2023 The tech company already offers an Uber Taxi option that connects riders to taxicabs, but riders have to choose that tab and pay based on taxi meter fares. Luz Lazo, Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2023 The taxicab manicure used the mustard yellow as a base, with abstract stripe-y swipes of black (JINSoon Absolute Black) and white polish (JINSoon Absolute White) on accent fingers. Kathleen Hou, ELLE, 9 Sep. 2023 The cars offer more bells and whistles than an Uber or a taxicab. Mike Isaac, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2023 One recurring color in the new collection is taxicab yellow. Jessica Testa, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2023 Similar to those networks, Venmo allowed people to publicly post to a feed, in its case details of payment transactions, including the dollar amount, time, date and a description, such as a pizza or taxicab emoji. Brian X. Chen, New York Times, 10 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'taxicab.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

taximeter cab

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of taxicab was in 1899

Dictionary Entries Near taxicab

Cite this Entry

“Taxicab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/taxicab. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

taxicab

noun
taxi·​cab ˈtak-sē-ˌkab How to pronounce taxicab (audio)
: an automobile that carries passengers for a fare usually based on the distance traveled
Etymology

from earlier taximeter cab, from French taximètre, literally "tax meter," and English cab, a shortened form of cabriolet "a one-horse carriage"

Word Origin
In the days of horse-drawn vehicles, one type of carriage was called a cabriolet, from a French word meaning "leap." This name was fitting since the carriage was so light it bounced or "leaped" about on the rough roads of the time. In time the name cabriolet was shortened to cab. These cabs were popular as vehicles carrying passengers for a fee. They were equipped with a taximeter, a device that automatically recorded the distance traveled and showed what fee or "tax" the passenger owed. In time this carriage or "cab" with its taximeter came to be called a taximeter cab. When the automobile took over from carriages the job of carrying passengers for a fee, it took over the name taximeter cab as well. This name was soon shortened to taxicab, and that was later shortened to taxi and sometimes just cab.

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