Posted by Racer on September 6, 2006, at 12:18:19
In reply to Re: OK, folks -- SURVEY TIME!!!, posted by Phillipa on September 6, 2006, at 10:00:50
All these *used* to be regional differences, back when I took linguistics. There were even intermediate forms -- I've got a faucet in the kitchen, and in the bath, but turn on the spigot for the hose or sprinkler in the back yard, for instance. (And there was a rumor that in one area around New Jersey, people referred to "tractor trailer trucks.")
In my case, as I said, it's a faucet inside the house, spigot outside. Bucket if it's rubber or plastic, pail if it's metal.
And number 3 is a "big truck" ;-) (I think, if I needed to be more specific, rather than "big @$$ truck," I'd probably use "tractor trailer.")
Alexus and Declan, tractor trailers are also called things like 18 wheeler, or even GG's "semi." Brits would call them "lorries." They're the big Peterbilt or MAC style trucks that have trailers attached to haul huge loads. Think lumber, petrol, etc. Those things... I think MacKenzie is another brand in Oz, but can't quite think... Lemme ask Mr X...
Mr X says you'd call a tractor trailer a semi, and they're mostly made by Volvo or Mercedes over there. (Although I think that Mercedes is MacKenzie when it comes to tractor trailer trucks...)
Anyone have any more examples? Or anyone else want to join in the survey?
poster:Racer
thread:683581
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20060901/msgs/683671.html