travel cardn.
/ˈtravl kɑːd/, U.S. /ˈtræv(ə)l ˌkɑrd/ 1. A card providing identification while travelling, and sometimes authorization for travel. Now rare.
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1916 N.Y. Times 19 July 3/1 (heading) Quarantine drawn closer. Police to see that no patients are moved—travel cards for those going out of town.
1975 Canberra Times 27 Mar. 3 Both [Australian and New Zealand] immigration departments would investigate the possibility of introducing ‘travel cards’ for people who did not have passports.
2. Chiefly British. A prepaid card for travel on public transport, allowing either unlimited travel for a specified period of time, or travel until the prepaid credit has been used.
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1983 Daily Tel. 2 Apr. 3/1 London Transport is to switch from Underground season tickets to ‘travelcards’ which will also be valid on buses but which will need a photograph of the holder.
1990 Lesbian & Gay Pride 25/2 A one-day travel card costs £2.30.
2015 Sun (Nexis) 5 July Eddie Redmayne's most prized possession is not his Oscar—it's his Oyster travel card.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2020; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1916