paddy wagon

American  

noun

1. Informal. patrol wagon.

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paddy wagon British  

noun

1. an informal word for patrol wagon

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Usage

More context on paddy wagon Paddy is a pet form of Patrick, a name commonly found in Ireland, whose patron saint is St. Patrick. That's fine and all; plenty of individuals do go by the nickname Paddy. But using Paddy as a stand-in for all Irish people? That's definitely not fine. While many people are proud of their Irish heritage, it can be easy to forget how poorly treated the Irish were, especially by the British and as American immigrants. While its exact origin is unclear, paddy wagon, for a police van or car, may be linked to a historic stereotype that painted Irish immigrants as no more than “drunk criminals” in the U. S. If knowing the history of paddy wagon has got you reflecting on your word choices, this slideshow, "These Common Words Have Offensive Histories," discusses many other words whose place in your vocab you may want to reconsider. 

Etymology

Origin of paddy wagon

1925–30; probably paddy policeman, special use of paddy

Example Sentences

One day, “just as I was being put in the paddy wagon, I saw all the reporters around her,” Burwell recalled.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 6, 2021

“In the paddy wagon, I told everyone the number for the Colorado Freedom Fund. I said, ‘Hey guys, repeat this number until you get to a phone.’”

From New York Times • Jun. 25, 2020

The Associated Press reported that Fonda was taken away in a paddy wagon.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 18, 2019

“I stepped out of the paddy wagon and held my fist up,” he said.

From Washington Post • Jan. 12, 2019

And they would throw us in, and old Bull would say, “Take 'em off” and they did; and we would just go in the paddy wagon singing, “We Shall Overcome.”

From "While the World Watched: A Birmingham Bombing Survivor Comes of Age during the Civil Rights Movement" by Carolyn Maull McKinstry