Gypsy Cab
The Historical Dictionary of American Slang, A-G has citations for "gypsy," meaning an independent migratory trucker, from 1953 and 1960. A "gypsy cab" is an unlicensed taxi.…
Had One Never Did Again (Honda backronymic nickname)
Entry in progress -- B.P.Honda Wikipedia: HondaHonda Motor Company, Limited (本田技研工業株式会社 Honda Giken Kōgyō KK?, IPA: [hoɴda]; /ˈhɒndə/) is a Japanese public multinational…
Heartbreak Hotel (Ramada Plaza JFK Hotel)
The Ramada Plaza JFK Hotel (at JFK Airport) was called "Heartbreak Hotel" (also the title of a 1956 Elvis Presley song) in July 1996, when it housed grieving family members of those who…
Highway of Light (1920s air route, New York to San Francisco)
Entry in progress -- B.P. PaleofutureThe "Highway of Light" That Guided Early Planes Across AmericaMatt Novak11/18/13 11:08am(...)Built by the U.S. government, the airmail beacons of the…
Hipster Express (Knowit Express buses from Brooklyn to Washington, DC nickname)
The Knowit Express announced bus service from Washington, DC (U Street Corridor) to Brooklyn (Park Slope), beginning October 22, 2010. It was dubbed the "Hipster Express" (cited in print…
Hipster Express (L train nickname)
The "L" train has been nicknamed the "hipster express" by some because the "L" goes between the newly gentrified Williamsburg to Manhattan's East Village. In…
Honku (honk + hailku)
A "honku" (honk + haiku) is a haiku of anti-honking verses. A haiku is a three-line poem of 17 syllables, in phrases of 5 syllables, then 7 syllables, and then 5 syllables. Aaron…
Human High Tide
"Human high tide" is another term for "rush hour." The difference is that the former term ("human high tide") concerns people and the latter term ("rush…
Hylan’s Holes (abandoned, incomplete Staten Island Tunnel)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Staten Island TunnelThe Staten Island Tunnel is an abandoned, incomplete railway/subway tunnel in New York City. It was intended to connect railways on Staten…
Idaho Stop
The "Idaho stop" allows cyclists to treat a red light like a stop sign, and a stop sign like a yield sign. The law was developed in 1982 by Carl Bianchi, then the Administrative Director…
Iron Maiden or HEET (High Entrance/Exit Turnstile)
Did you ever go into the subway and see those metal bars in a revolving door-type entrance? That's an "iron maiden" or a "High Entrance/Exit Turnstile" (HEET). The HEETs…
JetFU (JetBlue nickname)
JetBlue is a low-cost airline headquartered in Forest Hills, Queens, with a main base at John F. Kennedy International Airport (also in Queens). On an August 8, 2010 flight from Pittsburgh to New…
Journey Always Late or Just Arrives Late (Japan Airlines or JAL backronymic nickname)
Japan Airlines (JAL) was founded in 1953 and is the flag carrier of Japan. JAL was given the backronymic (back acronym) of "Joke About Life" in 1992, "Just About Late" and…
Kiss & Fly
John F. Kennedy International Airport has a "Kiss & Fly" area located at the Lefferts Boulevard Station. Travelers can avoid airport traffic by driving to the "Kiss &…
Kissing Gallery or Kissing Room (Biltmore Room at Grand Central Terminal)
New York City's Grand Central Terminal (frequently called "Grand Central Station") opened in 1913. The New York Biltmore Hotel operated from 1913 to 1981. Grand Central's…
LaGarbage (LaGuardia Airport nickname)
New York City's LaGuardia Airport was built on landfill. Pilots have called the airport "LaGarbage" for this and for other reasons. "Serious airport problems are by no means…
Largely Incompetent Rail Road (Long Island Rail Road or LIRR nickname)
The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) provides transportation between Manhattan and Suffolk County on Long Island. "LIRR" has been given several backronyms (back acronyms). "Me thinks the…
Last One There (LOT Polish Airlines backronymic nickname)
LOT Polish Airlines was founded in 1929 and is the flag carrier of Poland. LOT has been given the backronymic (back acronym) nickname of "Last One There" since at least 1991. LOT has also…
Lavender Lake (Gowanus Canal)
The Gowanus Canal (opened in 1866) became so polluted that it was called "Lavender Lake." Recent efforts have been proposed to clean up the area.…
Leave Island Any Time (LIAT backronymic nickname)
LIAT stands for Leeward Islands Air Transport and is a Caribbean airline headquartered in Antigua. The LIAT backronymic (back acronym) nicknames of "Leave Islands Any Time" and…