pirata
n.— «Also known as bandit taxis, gypsy cabs or piratas—Spanish for “pirates”—they take business away from licensed cabbies, depress bus ridership and pose safety risks for passengers, officials say.» —“Illegal Taxis Keep On Rolling” by Caitlin Liu Los Angeles Times Nov. 22, 2004. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Trivia time! Where in the United States can you visit Soda City? If you answered Columbia, South Carolina, you’re right! This nickname apparently derives from an old practice of abbreviating Columbia as Cola. The locals then referred to the town as...
