Word Origins - Taxi Cab

The name Taxi Cab came into existence because of a German invention called the taximeter. Originally taxis were just called cabs. In 1891, Wilhelm Bruhn invented the modern taximeter. They were originally mechanically and mounted outside of the cab. Eventually they were mounted inside of the cab. If the cab was called a “Taxi Cab”, potential passengers understood that the cab had use of a taximeter to calculate the fare.