General
prairie
What does prairie mean?
A vacant, overgrown lot in a city neighborhood.
"The kids play ball in the prairie down the block."
Origin
Chicago neighborhood term for empty, weed-filled lots.
Frequently asked questions
What does prairie mean in Chicago?
In Chicago neighborhoods it means a vacant, overgrown, weed-filled lot rather than open grassland.
How do Chicagoans use the word prairie?
They use it for an empty city lot, as in 'The kids play ball in the prairie down the block.'
Why is a vacant lot called a prairie?
The name likens the weedy, untended lot to natural prairie grassland, a longtime local usage.
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