cab English · revision 14898

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=clipping|attested=1826|origins=la caper}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /kæb/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a London shortening of [[cabriolet]], a light covered horse-drawn carriage (1763),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) [[bor|fr|cabriolet]], a diminutive of [[m|fr|cabriole|t=a leap, caper]], earlier [[m|fr|capriole]], from [[it|capriola|t=a caper, leap]],^(Etymonline) ultimately from [[la|caper|t=goat]].^(Cresswell 2021) The carriage was named for its bouncing motion.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A light two- or four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage: 1826, in Disraeli, in Barnhart and Etymonline;^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) 1824 in Merriam-Webster.^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Cab was used for a cabman from 1827,^(OED 1989) and for a shelter for the driver of a locomotive from 1864.^(OED 1989) The verb, to go by cab (also ''to cab it''), is from 1835.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) Today it chiefly means a [[taxi]], and also the driver's compartment of a truck or machine.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1763 – cabriolet.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1824 – cab.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1826 – a light carriage.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1827 – a cabman.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1835 – to cab (verb).^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1864 – a locomotive driver's shelter.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A taxi; a [[taxicab]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # The enclosed compartment of a truck, [[locomotive]], crane or similar machine, from which it is driven or operated.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(historical)'' A one-horse vehicle for public hire.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''first cab off the rank'' ''(Australia, informal)'': the first person to do or take advantage of something.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To travel in a cab.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[cabby]]

+ * [[cabman]]

+ * [[cabstand]]

+ * [[minicab]]

+ * [[cabbie]]

+ * [[cabdriver]]

+ * [[taxicab]]

+ * [[pedicab]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[cabriolet]]

+ * [[caper]]

+ * [[taxi]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Cab, an ancient Hebrew dry measure (1535), is a separate word, from Hebrew.^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024)^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}