The word tire is a shortened form of the word attire, which means "clothing or apparel". The term comes from the idea that a wheel with a tire is a dressed wheel, or a way to protect a naked wheel.​ After World War II, American troops left behind remains of war vehicles across the Philippines. These shells would be reclaimed, decorated, and transformed into what are now called “jeepneys”, becoming the most popular form of communal transportation in the Philippines, and a cultural symbol of resilience. ​Portmanteau is a word blending the sounds and combining the meanings of two others, for example: jeepney is a portmanteau of post–World War II “jeep” and pre-war "jitney” (both words common slang in the popular vernacular of the era). Portmanteau is also a large trunk or suitcase, typically made of stiff leather and opening into two equal parts.

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