hackney-carriage

A man hails a hackney-carriage on a city street.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A horse-drawn vehicle for hire: "hackney-carriage" refers to a horse-drawn vehicle, such as a coach or cab, that is available for public hire, typically in cities or towns.
   • A taxi or licensed vehicle: In modern usage, "hackney-carriage" can also mean a motorized taxi or licensed vehicle that operates as a public conveyance, especially in the United Kingdom.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • In the 19th century, a hackney-carriage was a common sight on London streets. (A horse-drawn vehicle available for hire.)
  • The airport has a dedicated rank for hackney-carriages. (A taxi or licensed vehicle for public hire.)

Advanced Usage

• "hackney-carriage license": a legal permit required to operate a vehicle for public hire.

  • He applied for a hackney-carriage license to drive his taxi in the city. (A permit for a licensed taxi.)

• "hackney-carriage rank": a designated area where hackney-carriages wait for passengers.

  • Passengers lined up at the hackney-carriage rank outside the station. (A designated taxi waiting area.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hackney (n): a horse kept for hire; also, a taxi or vehicle for hire.
  • The old hackney was too tired to pull the carriage. (A horse for hire.)
• Hackney-coach (n): an older term for a horse-drawn hackney-carriage.
  • The hackney-coach was painted black and yellow. (A horse-drawn vehicle for hire.)

Synonyms

• Taxi: a motorized vehicle for hire, often with a meter.
• Cab: a type of taxi or hackney-carriage.
• Carriage: a horse-drawn vehicle for passengers.

Related Idioms

• "Hackneyed": (adjective) overused or trite, derived from the idea of a hackney-carriage being common or ordinary.
  • The phrase "time heals all wounds" has become hackneyed. (Overused and lacking originality.)