General
black maria
What does black maria mean?
An older name for the police van — the prisoner transport with no windows. Used since the 1840s in the US and UK. Folk etymology says it's named after Maria Lee, a formidable Black boarding-house keeper in Boston who'd help haul troublemakers off to the lock-up.
"They marched the lot of them straight into the back of the black maria."
Origin
1840s; folk etymology credits Maria Lee, a Black Boston boarding-house keeper said to have helped police subdue and transport drunks.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'black maria' mean?
A black maria is a police van used for transporting prisoners.
How do you use 'black maria' in a sentence?
For example, 'They loaded the lot of them into the black maria.'
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