cab (1) — ODE

cab1 /kab

▸ noun

1 (also taxi cab) a taxi:

she hailed a cab

[as modifier] cab drivers.

▪ historical a horse-drawn vehicle for public hire.

2 the driver's compartment in a lorry, bus, or train.

▸ verb

( cabs, cabbing, cabbed)

[no object] travel in a taxi:

Roger cabbed home.

– PHRASES

first cab off the rank Australian and New Zealand English informal
the first to seize an opportunity:

the party is the first cab off the rank in opposing this bill.

– ORIGIN early 19th century: abbreviation of cabriolet.