loot rail

English

Etymology

Blend of loot +‎ light rail

Noun

loot rail (uncountable)

  1. (US, slang, derogatory) The light rail system of Baltimore, regarded as a means for inner-city criminals to visit other districts to commit robbery.
    • 1994, U.S. News & World Report, volume 117, page 18:
      The idea held great promise. […] So citizens said yes. But that was a year ago, before inner-city troubles arrived on the boxy white train with a blue stripe, before light rail became known as "loot rail."
    • 2004, James A. Kushner, The Post-Automobile City, page 52:
      […] has launched the anti-“loot rail” movement as it has named itself as a play on “light rail,” but such fears are unwarranted and most thieves have access to automobiles.
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