jehu

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The Word of the Day for January 31 is:=20

jehu   \JEE-hyoo\   noun
          : a driver of a coach or cab

Example sentence:
          The jehu who picked us up from the hotel got us to the airport=
 in plenty of time, but his reckless driving gave us more of an adventur=
e than we would have liked.
=20

Did you know?
          Today's word comes from the name of a notoriously speedy chari=
ot driver. Originally a commander of chariots for Ahab, king of Israel, =
Jehu later led a revolt against the throne and became king himself. In t=
he Bible, it is noted of Jehu that "he drives furiously" (_II Kings_ 9:2=
0). In the 17th century, English speakers began using "jehu" as a generi=
c term meaning "coachman" or, specifically, "a fast or reckless coachman=
." Today, we are more likely to use the word in reference to reckless ca=
bdrivers. The phrase "drives like Jehu" is encountered occasionally, too=
.





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