| The Breakroom > The Water Cooler |
| Names that become the product |
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| SwarfnStuff:
Reading the Sod/Silicate Bodge thread got the old grey matter wandering off on a tangent. Here's the gist of my mental meanderings, We refer to 'Masonite' when we mean compressed hardboard, the 'Thermos' when we mean a vacuum flask, 'Biro' when we mean ball point pen. Here in OZ Hoover is usually referred to as, 'the Vac', the motor mower will often be called, 'the victor'. There are obviously many others that will vary with country of postee but why not toss em in here and see what eventuates? I won't mention 'Nylon' when we mean polyamide. Oh, I just did :lol:. |
| appletree:
Conversely here in the UK vacuum cleaners are often referred to as Hoovers |
| Will_D:
Nylon is named after New York and London as the polymer was discovered almost simulltaneously in those two cities. |
| philf:
--- Quote from: Will_D on June 05, 2015, 05:27:17 AM ---Nylon is named after New York and London as the polymer was discovered almost simulltaneously in those two cities. --- End quote --- An 'Urban Myth' I'm afraid. Invented (or discovered by Wallace Carothers working for Dupont) and no-one seems to be able to give a definite explanation for the name nylon. Hoover is now in the dictionary with a small 'h' as a generic term for a vacuum cleaner but in a local shop I saw this taken a bit too far - they had in the window a vacuum cleaner with a price tag titled "Dyson Hoover". Phil. |
| Will_D:
Thanks Phil! There goes another cherished memory. |
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