Tagged Questions
5
votes
1answer
115 views
Pool or billiards in 1890s American South?
Which term is more likely to have been used in Georgia around 1893? I found a British website which explains the origin of the modern game known as American pool ...
-2
votes
1answer
72 views
What is another word for “tuxedo” that was used in the 1890s American South? [closed]
A young man from a wealthy Macon, Georgia family attends a formal dinner at his college in 1893. What was his formal suit called back then? I'm thinking he probably wore a tailcoat, but I want to know ...
3
votes
3answers
98 views
What is the history of the word “lobby”?
I would like to know if the word "lobby" would have been used in 1890s Georgia (United States) and to what exactly this word would have referred in that time.
2
votes
4answers
176 views
“Hot cakes” or “flapjacks” in 1890s American South?
Which term is more likely to have been used by my main character, a young man from a wealthy Macon, Georgia family, in 1893?
2
votes
1answer
66 views
Cologne or toilet water?
I am writing a novel set in 1890s Georgia (United States), and I am wondering whether the main character, a young man of eighteen, would refer to eau de toilette as cologne, toilet water, or something ...
16
votes
3answers
1k views
Why does “corn” mean “maize” in American English?
I keep hearing "corn" as a synonym of "maize". This is widely popularized worldwide by popcorn. However, this is American English! In British English, "corn" can mean any type of "grain", especially ...
3
votes
2answers
138 views
OED Appeals: Antedatings of “party animal”
The OED has made a public appeal for help in tracing the history of some English words, including:
party animal
noun earlier than 1982
When the OED added its entry for party animal, ...
4
votes
1answer
99 views
What does “bite” and “quarter-backing” mean in this context?
It's from the first few lines of the foreword to Karl Llewellyn's "The Bramble Bush":
These lectures grew out of an attempt in 1929 and 1930 to introduce
the students at Columbia Law School to ...
6
votes
4answers
509 views
Different Meanings of 'Jumper' (Transatlantic embarassment)
I'm originally from Wales, now living in the USA, and as the cold weather is approaching I'm determined, this year, to start using the word sweater to describe the item of clothing I'm wearing, as ...
2
votes
2answers
98 views
US English — “primary grains being produced” vs. “major cereals being produced”
I am correcting a Spanish-to-English translation that states,
The primary grains being produced in the world are maize, wheat, rice, barley, sorghum and oats.
I would prefer to use cereals ...
6
votes
4answers
435 views
“Muppet” in American English
I see an event is being organised in Washington, DC, called the Million Muppet March. In British English (at least) a muppet has no very positive a connotation:-
muppet (ˈmʌpɪt) — n slang ...
2
votes
5answers
272 views
Pronunciation difference between “cycle” and “psycho”
When I speak English, I can't tell the difference between cycle and psycho, I pronounce them the same.
And it's not only cycle vs. psycho; when words end in -le or -o, I always confusee them.
How to ...
1
vote
4answers
452 views
Difference between “heck” and “hell”
Many say that one shouldn't use "hell" as it is informal. You can use "heck" instead. Both convey the same meaning. Then why this difference? Why can't one use "hell" everywhere?
6
votes
6answers
2k views
Is there a different understanding of “rubber” in British and American English?
I was well aware of the different meanings of rubber, not least because there are the same definitions in my mother-tongue. However, while reading a text about differences between British and American ...
3
votes
2answers
2k views
“Invite” vs. “invitation”
I hear a lot of people saying "Send me an invite". I always thought that it was an 'invitation'. Is "sending one an invite" accepted usage? Or is it incorrect? If I need to get my wedding invitation ...
1
vote
3answers
184 views
Usage of the word 'burlesque'
Here, in the place where I am being hosted, almost every evening there is an event usually called "burlesque".
Is "burlesque" normally used by Americans?
How is the word used generally? In what ...
1
vote
2answers
486 views
Is “shvisle” a real or made up word? [closed]
I've come across the word in this captchart: "Yo, my nizzle, can you pass me that shvisle?".
Is it supposed to mean something?
I've easly found the meaning of nizzle, but I'm at a loss with shvisle. ...
4
votes
3answers
219 views
Usage of “note (bill)” and “banknote” in AmE
Do American English speakers use note to mean bill (as in ten-dollar bill)? If so, is note a shortening of the word banknote?
4
votes
3answers
874 views
“Aeroplane” or “Airplane” - Which are people more familiar with? [closed]
I'm considering creating an application which has the word "Aeroplane" in the title. However, I have noticed in Google the following trend:
Aeroplane: 16,700,000 results
Airplane: 119,000,000 ...
10
votes
4answers
5k views
“flat” vs. “apartment”
Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, 8th edition
Flat:
noun. [ countable ] ( BrE ) a set of rooms for living in, including a kitchen, usually on one floor of a building.
Apartment：
noun. ( ...
2
votes
3answers
1k views
Which of these two sentences is correct (“processes” vs. “process”)?
Which of the following two sentences is correct?
Read more about the processes behind my projects.
...or...
Read more about the process behind my projects.
The one on top looks right ...
3
votes
2answers
1k views
What is the difference in meaning between “pattern” and “rhythm”?
What is the difference in meaning between pattern and rhythm?
It seems to me that the former is more American-English and the latter more British-English. Are these more or less synonyms or are there ...
10
votes
6answers
3k views
Difference between “canteen” and “cafeteria”
Are there any differences between canteen and cafeteria?
In India, usually an eating place attached to an office, factory or school is called a canteen. Of course, in some new offices it is called ...
5
votes
3answers
928 views
“Cleats” vs. “soccer shoes”
I used to say cleats but found it uncommon for some people, though I had no trouble with soccer shoes. I have always lived in a Spanish-speaking country (Nicaragua) so I find it hard to know why that ...
7
votes
4answers
2k views
Difference between “garbage” and “trash”?
What's the difference between garbage and trash? Is the difference significant?
8
votes
4answers
1k views
Do Americans use the world 'turtle' as a generic word to mean 'tortoise'?
Obviously there are two different animals — a tortoise and a turtle. But I have been told by a colleague that in the US the word turtle is used to describe both.
I find this odd as for example the ...
4
votes
8answers
2k views
Which is correct: “soda” or “pop”?
Depending on where you go in the world, some people will refer to a carbonated beverage as "soda" while others choose to use the term "pop." For example, "Can I get you a soda" vs. "Can I get you a ...
12
votes
3answers
5k views
What's the difference between 'subway', 'metro' and 'tube'?
When I watched the "American Album" program, Susan and Henry talked about New York, and she used the word 'subway'.
When I listened to BBC's '6 minutes English', I heard 'tube' used in the ...
5
votes
2answers
2k views
Why “ladybird”?
In case you don't know, in British English, the little red-with-black-spots insect is not called a "ladybug", as in North America, but a "ladybird".
This seems rather a poor act of classification, ...
18
votes
5answers
8k views
What is the origin of the phrase “I'll take a raincheck”?
What is the origin of the phrase I'll take a raincheck?
11
votes
4answers
3k views
Can or should “ask” ever be used as a noun?
"The ask is that you provide me with..."
I started hearing "ask" being used as a noun a few years ago. Is this a recent trend? Is it an East Coast thing, unique to North America, or just unique to ...
11
votes
3answers
3k views
Is there any difference between “color” and “colour”?
What is the difference between color and colour?
