Taxiing?!

[Chananya Freedman]

Where does the term taxiing come from? Wouldn't driving work? Where did it originate?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxiing
Good info but no history that I could see... 

[Hollis]

Good question. Here's a little info that I dug up:
The origin of the verb 'taxi' came from the German word 'taxameter', first used in 1890. In 1907, England used the word 'taximeter' which was a method to compute the cab fare (which in both cases, defined the 'tax' to be charged) for the use of of a carriage, using time and distance. In 1911, the shortened word 'taxi' was used to define the slow movement of an airplane on land or water, such as to 'taxi' to the takeoff position, etc.
(Incidentally, note the use of the expression 'hover taxiing', regarding helicopters, in the Wikipedia article. Back in my day, we called it 'air taxiing', i.g., 'air taxi to the ramp'. IMO, neither term is correct. By definition, You can't taxi while airborne, not can you be moving laterally while hovering. Oh well).

73s 

[sykocus]

(Incidentally, note the use of the expression 'hover taxiing', regarding helicopters, in the Wikipedia article. Back in my day, we called it 'air taxiing', i.g., 'air taxi to the ramp'. IMO, neither term is correct. By definition, You can't taxi while airborne, not can you be moving laterally while hovering. Oh well).

73s 

Both terms are still used to describe different actions.

From the PCG

AIR TAXI- Used to describe a helicopter/VTOL
aircraft movement conducted above the surface but
normally not above 100 feet AGL. The aircraft may
proceed either via hover taxi or flight at speeds more
than 20 knots. The pilot is solely responsible for
selecting a safe airspeed/altitude for the operation
being conducted.

HOVER TAXI- Used to describe a helicopter/VTOL
aircraft movement conducted above the surface and
in ground effect at airspeeds less than approximately
20 knots. The actual height may vary, and some
helicopters may require hover taxi above 25 feet AGL
to reduce ground effect turbulence or provide
clearance for cargo slingloads.

I don't know what the official definition of hover is, but the hovercraft would be a pretty sill invention if it didn't move laterally.

[Hollis]

According to most dictionaries, including Wikipedia, the word hover means
'to remain in one place while suspended in mid air'.
The term 'hovercraft' is therefore a slight misnomer.