General
the wax
What does the wax mean?
A nickname for the brass subway tokens used before the MetroCard era.
"Back in the day you needed the wax to get on the train."
Origin
NYC transit slang for the old subway token.
Frequently asked questions
What is 'the wax' in NYC slang?
It's a nickname for the brass subway tokens used before the MetroCard era.
How do you use 'the wax'?
Use it for the old token, like 'Back in the day you needed the wax to get on the train.'
Is 'the wax' still used?
It's largely historic, since tokens were phased out in favor of the MetroCard.
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