Jalopy

Origin

The word "jalopy" likely cruises its way into American English from the vibrant port city of Jalapa, Mexico, during the early 20th century. A popular tale suggests that old, worn-out American cars, deemed unfit for sale domestically, were often shipped from ports like New Orleans to Mexico for resale, with many bound for or associated with Jalapa. These clunky, second-hand vehicles, upon arriving in their new home, were quickly dubbed "jalopies," a name that soon traveled back north to describe any beat-up, unreliable car sputtering down American roads.