- cab
- 1826, "light, horse-drawn carriage," shortening of cabriolet (1763), from Fr. cabriolet (18c.), dim. of cabrioler "leap, caper" (16c./17c.), from It. capriolare "jump in the air," from L. capreolus "wild goat, roebuck." The carriages had springy suspensions. Extended to hansoms and other types of carriages, then extended to similar parts of locomotives (1859). Applied especially to public horse carriages, then to automobiles-for-hire (1899) when these replaced them. Cabby/cabbie is from 1859 (see taxi).