taximeter

instrument

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Last updated

July 14, 2026

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A taximeter is an instrument used in hired vehicles, such as taxicabs, to automatically display the fare owed by a passenger. The term "taximeter" originates from French and German, with roots in Medieval Latin "taxa," meaning tax or charge. This device calculates the fare based on distance traveled. The word "taxicab" itself is derived from "taximeter-cab," indicating a hired car equipped with this fare-calculating device. The term "taxameter" is an alternative spelling for taximeter.123

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taxicab
…taxicab is named after the taximeter, an instrument invented by Wilhelm Bruhn in 1891 that automatically recorded the distance traveled and/or the time consumed, thus enabling the fare to be accurately measured. The term cab derives from the cabriolet, a two-wheeled, one-horse carriage often let out for hire.
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…taxicab is named after the taximeter, an instrument invented by Wilhelm Bruhn in 1891 that automatically recorded the distance traveled and/or the time consumed, thus enabling the fare to be accurately measured. The term cab derives from the cabriolet, a two-wheeled, one-horse carriage often let out for hire.
Read More