Definition

1. Noun:
   • A female traffic warden: A "meter maid" is a policewoman whose specific duty is to enforce parking regulations. Her primary task involves patrolling areas with parking meters or timed parking zones and issuing citations (parking tickets) to vehicles that are in violation of the rules.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The meter maid wrote a ticket for the car parked at an expired meter.
  • If you overstay your time, a meter maid will likely notice and fine you.

Advanced Usage

• The term "meter maid" is somewhat dated and can be considered gender-specific. In modern, more gender-neutral language, terms like parking enforcement officer or traffic warden are often preferred.
  • The city now employs parking enforcement officers, a role that was once primarily filled by so-called meter maids.

Variants and Related Words

• Parking enforcement officer (n): A gender-neutral term for a person employed to monitor parking and issue tickets.
• Traffic warden (n): An official responsible for the control and regulation of road traffic and parking.

Synonyms

• Parking attendant: (Note: This can sometimes imply a person who collects fees or assists with parking, rather than solely enforcing rules.)
• Traffic officer: A broader term that can include individuals enforcing moving violations as well as parking.

Notes on Usage

• The term "meter maid" specifically refers to a officer. Its use has declined as the profession has become more integrated and language has shifted to avoid gender-specific job titles where the gender is not relevant to the duties.

Noun

1. policewoman who is assigned to write parking tickets