black cab

English

Etymology

So-called because they were originally painted black; nowadays they can be any colour, but are still referred to as black cabs.

Noun

black cab (plural black cabs)

1. (British) A traditional London-style taxi; a hackney carriage.
   • 2023 February 8, Greg Morse, “Crossing the border... by Sleeper”, in RAIL, number 976, page 45:

     Sitting in a black cab as it speeds away into the traffic, I check my bag. There, hiding in the bottom corner, I find a hand and body wash with the Caledonian Sleeper logo on it. I hadn't used it.

References

• “black cab”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.