jitney
noun
No English definition recorded for this entry.
L322830 on Wikidata ↗Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˈd͡ʒɪtni/ / /ˈʒiː-/
adj
Etymology: 1886, originally for a five-cent US coin (a nickel); use for taxis and buses due to these services originally charging five cents as fare, popularized circa 1915. The etymology is uncertain; it is believed to originate from Louisiana Creole jetnée, from French jeton (“token, coin-sized metal disc”), though this is disputed. Evidence for the Louisiana Creole French origin includes the geographic distribution (Southeastern US, especially Black/African-American), and early spelling as gitney, which is common French spelling for the /ʒi/ pronunciation.
- Synonym of cheap, very inexpensive.
noun
Etymology: 1886, originally for a five-cent US coin (a nickel); use for taxis and buses due to these services originally charging five cents as fare, popularized circa 1915. The etymology is uncertain; it is believed to originate from Louisiana Creole jetnée, from French jeton (“token, coin-sized metal disc”), though this is disputed. Evidence for the Louisiana Creole French origin includes the geographic distribution (Southeastern US, especially Black/African-American), and early spelling as gitney, which is common French spelling for the /ʒi/ pronunciation.
- Synonym of nickel, a 5-cent coin or amount.
- Synonym of minibus, especially one with a scheduled fixed route.
- Synonym of gypsy cab, an unlicensed taxi.
- Synonym of shared taxi, a taxi usually shared with strangers to maximize profitability per trip.
“[…] I said good-by and took the bags downstairs and hailed a Frisco taxi-jitney, which was an ordinary taxi that ran a regular route and you could hail it from any corner and ride to any corner you want for about fifteen cents, cramped in with other passengers like on a bus, but talking and telling jokes like in a private car.”
- An informal lawn bowling, curling, or darts competition in which all players present are randomly drawn into teams.
- A fraudulent arrangement whereby a broker who has direct access to an exchange executes trades on behalf of a broker who does not.