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Synonyms

Black Maria

American  
[muh-rahy-uh] / məˈraɪ ə /

noun

  1. patrol wagon.


Black Maria British  
/ məˈraɪə /

noun

  1. a police van for transporting prisoners

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Black Maria

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Black Maria, also called "the Dog House," was the first movie studio ever constructed.

From Salon • Apr. 2, 2022

Ferguson’s Gang, as they called themselves, were masked, anonymous activists who went by codenames such as Bill Stickers, Granny the Throttler, Black Maria and Red Biddy.

From The Guardian • Feb. 8, 2019

So let’s start where the novel does, winter ’53, with one of the feared Black Maria trucks arriving in darkness to arrest Solomon Levinson, an actor from the defunct State Jewish Theater.

From Washington Post • Jan. 25, 2016

Instead of documenting the world, Edison created his own, bringing subjects to his Black Maria studio in northern New Jersey.

From Salon • Oct. 15, 2010

I call her Black Maria, and that's her kitten.

From My Lord Duke by Hornung, E. W. (Ernest William)