Crossword clues for jitney
The Collaborative International Dictionary
jitney \jitney\ n.
-
a small bus or similar vehicle carrying passengers on a fixed route, used for public transport. [WordNet sense 1]
Note: Probably so called because they once charged a nickel for the ride.
--RHUD A five-cent piece; a nickel. [slang, archaic]
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
"bus which carries passengers for a fare," 1915, short for jitney bus (1906), American English, from gitney, said to be slang for any small coin, especially "a nickel," because the buses' fare typically was a nickel, the coin name perhaps via New Orleans from French jeton "coin-sized metal disk, slug, counter," from Old French jeter "to calculate," literally "to throw" (see jet (v.)).\n\n"I'll give a nickel for a kiss,"\n
Said Cholly to a pretty miss.\n
"Skiddo," she cried, "you stingy cuss,"\n
"You're looking for a jitney buss." \n
\n
["Jitney Jingle," 1915]
\nThe origin and signification of the word was much discussed when the buses first appeared. Some reports say the slang word for "nickel" comes from the bus; most say the reverse, but there does not seem to be much record of jitney in a coin sense before the buses came along (a writer in "The Hub," August 1915, claims to have heard and used it as a small boy in San Francisco, and reported hearsay that "It has been in use there since the days of '49." In some sources it is said to be a St. Louis word, but most credit it to the U.S. West, especially California, though others trace it to "southern negroes, especially in Memphis" ["The Pacific," Feb. 7, 1915].Wiktionary
n. 1 A small bus or minibus which typically operates service on a fixed route, sometimes scheduled. 2 An unlicensed taxi cab. 3 A shared-ride taxi. 4 (context US archaic English) A small coin, a nickel. 5 (context in attributive use US archaic English) Very inexpensive. 6 (rfc-def) A fraudulent arrangement whereby a broker who has direct access to an exchange executes trades on behalf of a broker who doesn't.
WordNet
n. a vehicle carrying many passengers; used for public transport; "he always rode the bus to work" [syn: bus, autobus, coach, charabanc, double-decker, motorbus, motorcoach, omnibus]
Wikipedia
Jitney may refer to:
- an archaic name for a nickel (United States coin)
- share taxis that competed with streetcars
- a dollar van
- Hampton Jitney, a for-profit bus company based in Southampton, NY
- jitney cab, an informal, unlicensed, or illegal taxicab operation
- Atlantic City Jitney Association, an association of operators of minibus service in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA
- Jitney (play), written by August Wilson
- A small, wheeled cart or platform dolly.
Jitney is a play in two acts by August Wilson. The eighth in his " Pittsburgh Cycle", this play is set in a worn-down gypsy cab station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in early autumn 1977.
Usage examples of "jitney".
Zannez, pushing into the jitney with his load of gear, suddenly sees the young boy.
Zannez moves to the back of the jitney behind his four stars, yelling at Baramji.
The jitney, lurching and leaping, rockets toward the rise and finally plunges down into shelter among the streamer-trees beyond.
Kip drops speed, and the jitney runs relatively smoothly over the rock ruts.
Aquaman brightens as some leaves settle for a brief rest on the edge of the jitney near him.
A flicker of pain crosses his face, and then the empty syrette is being pocketed as the jitney draws to a stop.
With a final warning to keep their people under cover when the Star brightens, Kip joins the others in the jitney, and they start down.
The jitney speeds hostelward down the calm grassy avenues, once the scene of so much blood and pain.
The jitney bearing Zannez, Snake, Hanno, Bridey, and Kip, with Baram driving, arrives at the field just as the strange ship flicks on its floodlights.
Dayan walks back to the jitney to find a cloud of Damei wings fanning out overhead.
Star brightens, Kip joins the others in the jitney, and they start down.
An empty drink tube rolled between their feet as the jitney wheeled into motion, whisking them away from the cargo concourse and plunging into the tunnels of Plenty.
A commuter heading into town with an empty car would stop at the first jitney stop he came to and pick up any passengers going his way.
Four hundred jitney stops would blanket Chicago, with one every half mile in each direction.
Before investing any money, even a measly million dollars, in jitney transit, we might test more modest proposals.