this post was submitted on 17 Oct 2024
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Word of the Day

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This is a place to post words you read and had to look up or simply enjoyed the rare word drop in something you read.

Post only the word(s) in the title bar, and the definition(s) in the post body along with the title/author of what you were reading when you encountered it. Posts are not intended as book reviews, but the comments section is free game.

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Jitney (midwest.social)
submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by [email protected] to c/wotd
 

Encountered over in the [email protected] community:

https://midwest.social/post/18146430

Wiktionary has this to say:

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 include the geographic distribution (Southeastern US, especially Black/African-American), and early spelling as gitney, which is common French spelling for the /ʒi/ pronunciation.

Noun

jitney (plural jitneys)

  • A small bus or minibus which typically operates service on a fixed route, sometimes scheduled.
  • An unlicensed taxi cab.
  • A shared-ride taxi.
  • (US, archaic) A small coin, a nickel.
  • (in attributive use, US, archaic) Very inexpensive.
  • (Canada) An informal lawn bowling, curling, or darts competition in which all players present are randomly drawn into teams.
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