Taxi
/ˈtæk.si/noun
A taxicab; a vehicle available for hire.
Did you know?The word comes from taximeter, a device for measuring the fare, and that root ultimately traces back to the idea of a fixed charge or assessment—not anything mystical, just a very literal price tag on movement.
Etymological Timeline
Late 19th Century
German
Taxameter
“A meter for calculating a fare or charge”
Late 19th Century
French
taximètre
“A fare-measuring device”
Early 20th Century
English
taxi
“Shortened form referring to a taxicab”
Modern English
English
taxi
“A hired car for transport”