The earliest form of horse-drawn vehicle available for hire was called a ‘cab’ (short for cabriolet). The name stuck when cab firms upgraded to motorized vehicles, fitted with a ‘taximeter’ (which measured how far you’d gone). These were called ‘taxi-cabs’.
Invention and Spread
The taxi gets its name from the taximeter, which was invented by Friedrich Wilhelm Gustav Bruhn in Germany in the year 1891. In 1897, the first taxi with a fully functioning meter was invented by Gottlieb Daimler – it was called the Daimler Victoria.
Taxi Stands and Variations
Taxi stands are usually located at airports, railway stations, major retail areas (malls), hotels and other places where a large number of passengers are likely to be found. In some places taxis are arranged according to the size of the taxis, so that large- and small-capacity cabs line up separately. Although cars are associated with taxis, vans or other bigger vehicles can also be used.
Regulatory Information and Naming
Taxicabs and other vehicles-for-hire in Canada are regulated by local municipalities and provinces, and are owned & operated by private companies and individuals. Most cabs are large sedans with various colours and of domestic make.
The first use of the word “taxicab” was in March 1907 in London. The name “taxi” comes from “taximètre”, the French term for taximeter which kept track of mileage in rental vehicles.
What is the old word for taxi?
The old word for a taxi is ‘cab’, short for ‘cabriolet’.
What is the slang word for taxi?
The slang word for taxi is ‘cab’. It may also appear as "taxi cab".