Why are police vans called Paddy Wagons?

Answer 1

Because the criminals in back play PADDYcake on the way to jail.

Answer 2

As far as your question goes, you have already heard the two likely answers, and no one knows which is the truth. The use of "paddy wagon" as a slang term for a police van dates back to the 1920's, and seems to have originated in either New York City or Philadelphia, cities which had both large Irish immigrant populations and largely Irish-American police forces during that period.

It is true that "Paddy," a familiar form of the common Irish name Padraic (or Patrick) was used in the 19th and early 20th centuries as a generic, and often uncomplimentary, term for an Irishman, both in the U.S. and England. But while "paddy" certainly was used as an insult in the past, and Irish immigrants were without doubt the victims of discrimination, I think that it takes a pretty thin skin to find a grave insult in the term "paddy wagon." Among other things, the fact that it remains unclear whether the "paddy" involved was the arresting officer or the miscreant being arrested rather clouds the logic of taking offense. That "paddy" is also used in non-pejorative contexts ("Saint Paddy's Day") has also largely robbed the word of its sting, which is not the case with words such as "wop," which have always been, and always will be, grave insults.

Answer 3

The word paddywagon is of American origin. The precise origin of the term is uncertain and disputed, though its use dates back to at least the 1930s.[1] There are at least three theories as how the phrase originated.[2]

The most prevalent theory is based on the term "Paddy" (a common Irish shortening of Patrick), which was used (sometimes as slang) to refer to Irish people.[3] Irishmen made up a large percentage of the officers of early police forces in many American cities. Thus, this theory suggests that the concentration of Irish in the police forces led to the term "paddywagon" being used to describe the vehicles driven by police. An alternative theory is similarly based on the term "Paddy" but states that the term arose due to the number of immigrant Irish being arrested for having consumed too much alcohol and taken away in the vehicles.[4] The final theory holds that the name originates from the padding used on the inside of police horse-drawn carriages to prevent injury.[5

Answer 4

Hi Sarah. Just a stab in the dark on this one. It probably goes back to the 19th. century. The Irish diaspora of the 'paddies', as they were known, had begun as a result of the Potato Famine. The Irish quickly gained a reputation or a stereotype as brawlers among the locals, whether deserved or not. What is true is that they, like other ethnic migrant groups have been dealt their fair share of discrimination in the past. The term, 'paddy' itself, used to be a racist reference to a bunch of morons all to keen on a barney, anywhere,anyplace. So, I'm supposing, that the paddywagon, used to pick up brawlers and other criminals, reflected the notion that the majority, if not all of those rotten types were Irish.

Answer 5

Because in the old days there was a belief that all cops were Irish -- thus the vehicles that were driven around to pickj up criminals became "Paddy" (Irish common nick name) wagons.

Answer 6

Paddy - Drunken Irishman
Wagon - transportation
On the wagon - Drunken Irish in back of wagon cant have another drink

Answer 7

The Irish were/are ubiquitous in the police department. "Paddy" is a nickname for an Irish person.

Answer 8

The word paddywagon is of American origin. The precise origin of the term is uncertain and disputed, though its use dates back to at least the 1930s.

Answer 9

it's a slur on the Irish population, Paddy as in Irish and saying that all criminals are from that population

Answer 10

the old ones used to be padded on the inside where the bad guys were locked up.