Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “cab” come from?

Cab is an English word derived from Hebrew קב, a unit of measure whose precise meaning is uncertain.

cab (English): A taxi; a taxicab; Compartment at the front of a...

Definitions

  1. A taxi; a taxicab; Compartment at the front of a...

Ancestry of “cab”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcabrioletAn automobile with a retractable top; A light...
2Frenchcabrioleta cabriolet carriage; a convertible car; a...
3Italiancabriola—
4Latincapreolusroe deer, roebuck
5Latincapreaa roe deer; a wild female goat; vocative singular...
6Latin-eanominative feminine singular of -eus; nominative...
7Latin-eusargentum + API → argenteus; ferrum + API →...
8Ancient Greek-εῖοςForms adjectives, usually with a meaning of "of"...
9Proto-Indo-European-iHwós—
10Proto-Indo-European-wósCreates adjectives from verb stems

Words derived from “cab”

  • cabman
  • taxicab
  • cabbie
  • cabby
  • cabdriver
  • minicab
  • cabstand
  • cabless
  • autocab
  • cabover
  • cabdriving
  • cabwoman
  • cab
Every word from Proto-Indo-European -wós →