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From Brand Name To Common Name 3
- Thread starter Dimandja
- Start date
Blimey, hadn't expected such a response, although it makes sense. Dunno about the booze thing - although I did read once that the term "Getting Pi$$ed" (Have to be careful of our web filter) came from times when people would look for areas of snow to eat where druidic types were known to have urinated after consuming certain intoxicating mushrooms etc. I think this may stem from Scandinavian parts of the world, although I am a little sketchy on the details.
If you want a cheap night out, find some yellow snow!
If you want a cheap night out, find some yellow snow!
- Thread starter
- #22
Found it. By the end of the roaring twenties, E.G. Booz created a famous design for a bottle. This bottle was used almost exclusively to hold Whiskey. The often imitated bottle design was known as the "Booz Bottle".
Stella740pl
Programmer
sleipnir214,
Back to our discussion on Greek "dry" and brand name "Xerox", according to this page (type word dry in the English part and press "Find" button), greek word for "dry" starts with "Ksi", not "Chi", so I guess it should be read with "Ks" - as the second "X" in "Xerox". (I wasn't able to find "sounding" greek dictionary so far.) It's just that in English it was read with "Z" instead, following the English rules, not Greek.
TheRambler, wow, not only I didn't know that many of the words in RinkWorks were ever trademarks or brand names, I don't even know alternative names for many of them.
Now, can anyone tell me, how I can alternatively call at least the following items:
Hula-Hoop
Laundromat
Styrofoam
Windbreaker
Linoleum
Escalator
Zipper
Brassiere
Cellophane
Tabloid
Heroin
Plexiglas
Fiberglass
Back to our discussion on Greek "dry" and brand name "Xerox", according to this page (type word dry in the English part and press "Find" button), greek word for "dry" starts with "Ksi", not "Chi", so I guess it should be read with "Ks" - as the second "X" in "Xerox". (I wasn't able to find "sounding" greek dictionary so far.) It's just that in English it was read with "Z" instead, following the English rules, not Greek.
TheRambler, wow, not only I didn't know that many of the words in RinkWorks were ever trademarks or brand names, I don't even know alternative names for many of them.
Now, can anyone tell me, how I can alternatively call at least the following items:
Hula-Hoop
Laundromat
Styrofoam
Windbreaker
Linoleum
Escalator
Zipper
Brassiere
Cellophane
Tabloid
Heroin
Plexiglas
Fiberglass
Well, you can try the following:
Hula-Hoop - dancing ring
Laundromat - self-service laundry
Styrofoam – polystyrene
Windbreaker - light jacket
Linoleum - floor covering
Escalator - moving staircase
Zipper - zip fastener
Brassiere - underwear
Cellophane - transparent paper
Tabloid - alternative newspapers
Heroin - narcotic drug or C[sub]21[/sub]H[sub]23[/sub]NO[sub]5[/sub]
Plexiglas - clear plastic sheets
Fiberglass - glass fiber
Check out for more information.
Susan
[green]Gramen artificiosum odi. [/green]
Hula-Hoop - dancing ring
Laundromat - self-service laundry
Styrofoam – polystyrene
Windbreaker - light jacket
Linoleum - floor covering
Escalator - moving staircase
Zipper - zip fastener
Brassiere - underwear
Cellophane - transparent paper
Tabloid - alternative newspapers
Heroin - narcotic drug or C[sub]21[/sub]H[sub]23[/sub]NO[sub]5[/sub]
Plexiglas - clear plastic sheets
Fiberglass - glass fiber
Check out for more information.
Susan
[green]Gramen artificiosum odi. [/green]
sleipnir214
Programmer
I have a few, too. Some match those proposed by SF0751, some are different:
Hula-Hoop -- hoop?
Laundromat -- self-service laundry or washateria
Styrofoam -- polystyrene foam
Escalator -- moving stairway. Although in the U.S., "escalator" is no longer a trademark
Zipper -- slide fastener
Heroin -- diacetylmorphine
Want the best answers? Ask the best questions!
TANSTAAFL!!
Hula-Hoop -- hoop?
Laundromat -- self-service laundry or washateria
Styrofoam -- polystyrene foam
Escalator -- moving stairway. Although in the U.S., "escalator" is no longer a trademark
Zipper -- slide fastener
Heroin -- diacetylmorphine
Want the best answers? Ask the best questions!
TANSTAAFL!!
TheRambler
Programmer
Hi Stella,
I don't even know the meaning of many of the words. But the link provided by Susan is very helpful; a star from me.
Now I wonder if proprietary eponym is a better term than genericized trademark...
I don't even know the meaning of many of the words. But the link provided by Susan is very helpful; a star from me.
Now I wonder if proprietary eponym is a better term than genericized trademark...
Stella740pl
Programmer
Susan, sleipnir214,
I sure can try saying this, but would I be understood (back to the consensus discussion)? And if I would, wouldn't I be catching strange looks? Some of the propositions seem reasonable, some are a bit of a stretch. Come on, "washateria"? "Dancing ring"? As for linoleum being floor covering, aren't also carpets, rugs and tiles?
"... in the U.S., "escalator" is no longer a trademark" - do you think "Laundromat" still is - not on paper, effectively? I've seen very few self-service laundry places that were called something else.
As for hula-hoops (well, we didn't call them that), I was an expert in those in my pre-teen years. In any sports inventory store you could find a selection of colorful plastics and heavier aluminum ones. Those were the best; they were easier to keep up and provided more exercise as well. We took them outside to play, along with jumping ropes, etc., and whirled around different parts of our bodies hundreds of times, the more the better. I could do any part from neck to ankles, but not arms and hands, though. I don't remember doing any dancing with them.
I sure can try saying this, but would I be understood (back to the consensus discussion)? And if I would, wouldn't I be catching strange looks? Some of the propositions seem reasonable, some are a bit of a stretch. Come on, "washateria"? "Dancing ring"? As for linoleum being floor covering, aren't also carpets, rugs and tiles?
"... in the U.S., "escalator" is no longer a trademark" - do you think "Laundromat" still is - not on paper, effectively? I've seen very few self-service laundry places that were called something else.
As for hula-hoops (well, we didn't call them that), I was an expert in those in my pre-teen years. In any sports inventory store you could find a selection of colorful plastics and heavier aluminum ones. Those were the best; they were easier to keep up and provided more exercise as well. We took them outside to play, along with jumping ropes, etc., and whirled around different parts of our bodies hundreds of times, the more the better. I could do any part from neck to ankles, but not arms and hands, though. I don't remember doing any dancing with them.
TheRambler
Programmer
ESquared
Many of them. I could use a dictionary or look for an image in google to know the meaning, those words are not as common (worldwide) as someone could think. At least not as successful trademarks like Coca Cola or Aspirin, I bet.
Gunk, Pogo Stick, Shredded Wheat?
Or Astro Turf, Beer Nut, Wiffle Ball?
They are not part of my lexicon.
Many of them. I could use a dictionary or look for an image in google to know the meaning, those words are not as common (worldwide) as someone could think. At least not as successful trademarks like Coca Cola or Aspirin, I bet.
Gunk, Pogo Stick, Shredded Wheat?
Or Astro Turf, Beer Nut, Wiffle Ball?
They are not part of my lexicon.
You don't know what a Pogo Stick is? ![[surprise]](/data/assets/smilies/surprise.gif "[surprise] [surprise]")
They are so cool!!! I think I did something like 2000 bounces on one once without a stop.
I'm just teasing. It's interesting the things we assume "everyone" knows.
-------------------------------------
A sacrifice is harder when no one knows you've made it.
They are so cool!!! I think I did something like 2000 bounces on one once without a stop.I'm just teasing. It's interesting the things we assume "everyone" knows.
-------------------------------------
A sacrifice is harder when no one knows you've made it.
Stella740pl
Programmer
Likewise, I can guess that Shredded Wheat is a kind of breakfast cereal, and Beer Nut is a salty appetizer, made either of nuts or dough. But I don't know what Gunk, Pogo Stick, Astro Turf or Wiffle Ball are.
Gunk is a solvent that works well on sticky things like adhesive.
A pogo stick is a metal rod with handles, footrests, and a rubber foot attached to the stick by a strong spring. One leaps onto the device and bounces around, attempting to stay upright and hanging on.
Astro Turf is fake grass, often used in stadiums. It's a lot harder on the skin than regular grass, but it's quite a bit sturdier.
A Wiffle Ball (or Whiffle Ball) is a rigid plastic ball with large (finger-sized or larger) holes in it. It is often used with oversized plastic bats. It's larger than a baseball and smaller than a softball. It moves through the air slowly and thus is mostly for beginners. Although, there are some serious sports around it.
-------------------------------------
A sacrifice is harder when no one knows you've made it.
A pogo stick is a metal rod with handles, footrests, and a rubber foot attached to the stick by a strong spring. One leaps onto the device and bounces around, attempting to stay upright and hanging on.
Astro Turf is fake grass, often used in stadiums. It's a lot harder on the skin than regular grass, but it's quite a bit sturdier.
A Wiffle Ball (or Whiffle Ball) is a rigid plastic ball with large (finger-sized or larger) holes in it. It is often used with oversized plastic bats. It's larger than a baseball and smaller than a softball. It moves through the air slowly and thus is mostly for beginners. Although, there are some serious sports around it.
-------------------------------------
A sacrifice is harder when no one knows you've made it.
Stella740pl
Programmer
Oh, by the way, when I recently asked for hoop in sports store, the sales person kept showing me basketball inventory, even though I mentioned that I am looking for a new "as-seen-on-TV" kind, with a counter and some other improvements. We didn't understand each other untill I said that I need a special kind of hula-hoop.
Stella740pl
Programmer
Gunk is a solvent that works well on sticky things like adhesive.
Oh, we call it at home by another brand name, Goo-Gone. I think we will call that any new brand, too. I like the sound of it.
Oh, we call it at home by another brand name, Goo-Gone. I think we will call that any new brand, too. I like the sound of it.
sleipnir214
Programmer
stella740pl:
"Laundromat" may actually still be an enforced trademark. It was originally registered by Westinghouse, and I still have a self-serve laundry, the sign on which reads in part "Laudromat featuring Westinghouse appliances".
I found a reference that explicitly stated that "escalator" had become a common word.
There are trademarks that have, by court action, become explicitly common words. That doesn't count common usage, though. In the southern U.S., for example, it is common to hear "Coke" used to refer to any carbonated, caramelized, caffeinated soft drink.
I recognize both trade-names Goo-Gone and Gunk, but they are separate products. At least here in the states. For all I know, though, they could be different packages for the same product.
Want the best answers? Ask the best questions!
TANSTAAFL!!
"Laundromat" may actually still be an enforced trademark. It was originally registered by Westinghouse, and I still have a self-serve laundry, the sign on which reads in part "Laudromat featuring Westinghouse appliances".
I found a reference that explicitly stated that "escalator" had become a common word.
There are trademarks that have, by court action, become explicitly common words. That doesn't count common usage, though. In the southern U.S., for example, it is common to hear "Coke" used to refer to any carbonated, caramelized, caffeinated soft drink.
I recognize both trade-names Goo-Gone and Gunk, but they are separate products. At least here in the states. For all I know, though, they could be different packages for the same product.
Want the best answers? Ask the best questions!
TANSTAAFL!!
sleipnir214
Programmer
Correction:
"I still have a self-serve laundry" should have read "I still have a self-serve laundry in my town".
Want the best answers? Ask the best questions!
TANSTAAFL!!
"I still have a self-serve laundry" should have read "I still have a self-serve laundry in my town".
Want the best answers? Ask the best questions!
TANSTAAFL!!
AnotherHiggins
Technical User
KornGeek,
I have never heard of Davenport to refer to a couch. Where are you located?
Frisbee is another great example. Who *ever* says, "Let's go play flying disc"? Sports involving discs have tried to separate themselves from the 'Whamo!' brand name. "Disc golf" has been pretty successful, but a lot of folks (who know what it is, anyway), still seem to refer to 'Ultimate' as 'Ultimate Frisbee'.
I have never heard of Davenport to refer to a couch. Where are you located?
Frisbee is another great example. Who *ever* says, "Let's go play flying disc"? Sports involving discs have tried to separate themselves from the 'Whamo!' brand name. "Disc golf" has been pretty successful, but a lot of folks (who know what it is, anyway), still seem to refer to 'Ultimate' as 'Ultimate Frisbee'.
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