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What is the cockney slang for taxi cab?

Sherbet. Slang for cab. It derives from the Cockney rhyming term, 'sherbet dab' (the sugary tooth-dissolving treat that you chow down with a lollipop).



The most common Cockney rhyming slang for a taxi cab is a "Flounder and Dab." In traditional Cockney slang, which originated in the East End of London in the 19th century, a word or phrase is replaced with a rhyming word or phrase, and often only the first part of the rhyming phrase is used in conversation. So, "Flounder and Dab" rhymes with "Cab." While some people might simply say "Flounder," it is more common to hear the full phrase in rhyming slang dictionaries. However, another widely recognized slang term for a taxi in London is a "Sherbet" (derived from "Sherbet Dab," which also rhymes with "Cab"). You will often hear Londoners say, "I'm going to jump in a Sherbet" when they are calling a taxi. This colorful language is still very much a part of London's cultural identity in 2026, though modern "black cab" drivers and passengers are just as likely to use standard English or app-based terms. Rhyming slang remains a playful and historically rich way of communicating that serves as a secret "insider" language for those born "within the sound of Bow Bells."

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On this page you'll find 7 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to taxi driver, such as: cabbie, cabby, cab driver, cabman, hack, and hackman.

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London Cockney rhyming slang about beer That's why “pig's ear” and “King Lear” are two of the most popular words for beer. When ordering half a pint of beer, you can use the phrase “cow's half” and, once it gets you pissed, aka drunk, you can refer to the state you're in as “Brahms and Liszt” or “elephant's trunk”.

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Taxi cabs in Edinburgh are mostly black, the iconic 'hackney carriage' like the ones you can find in London and elsewhere in the UK. They're casually referred to as 'black cabs' and can often seat a company of 5.

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A cab is a taxi.

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That said, hailing is a fairly specific word that not everyone uses. If someone uses call a taxi, I wouldn't be surprised if they then go and hail a taxi.

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A symbol of London and Britain, the black taxi is a common sight on the streets of the UK. The hackney carriages carry a roof sign TAXI that can be illuminated at night to indicate their availability for passengers.

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1907, shortening of taximeter cab (introduced in London in March 1907), from taximeter automatic meter to record the distance and fare (1898), from French taximètre, from German Taxameter (1890), coined from Medieval Latin taxa tax, charge. An earlier English form was taxameter (1894), used in horse-drawn cabs.

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A hackney or hackney carriage (also called a cab, black cab, hack or London taxi) is a carriage or car for hire.

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Sherbet. Slang for cab. It derives from the Cockney rhyming term, 'sherbet dab' (the sugary tooth-dissolving treat that you chow down with a lollipop).

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Taxicabs are the only vehicles that have the right to pick up street-hailing and prearranged passengers anywhere in New York City. By law, there are 13,587 taxis in New York City and each taxi must have a medallion affixed to it.

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Taxi VS Cab The earliest form of horse-drawn vehicle available for hire was called a 'cab' (short for cabriolet). The name stuck when cab firms upgraded to motorized vehicles, fitted with a 'taximeter' (which measured how far you'd gone). These were called 'taxi-cabs'. Nowadays either word is used.

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Hailing a cab If you've ever hailed a taxi before, then doing so here in London is effectively the same thing – just stand on the curb, raise and hold out your arm towards a black cab that's approaching and will pass you and wait for it to stop (you don't have to whistle!).

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Hansom cabs were patented in 1834 by York architect Joseph Hansom. They were two-wheeled carriages drawn by horses and were much lighter and faster than the Hackney carriages. They were also cheaper to ride in. The Hansom cab soon spread to Berlin, Paris, St Petersburg, and New York City.

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