Hot Rods Automotive terms that don’t make sense....

I believe it’s more of southern thing but the word route which is either pronounced rout in the US or in Canada root.
One other one that I thought that was odd. I was at McDonalds in Washington state, ordered a burger and the gal behind the counter asked me if I wanted a sack to carry that. I said no a paper bag would be fine. She looked at me with a puzzled look.

 

Be careful with that word Down Under. It’s pronounced root like in Canada, but has less meanings.

You can drive a route between two cities.
Trees have roots.
It has a colloquial meaning identical to “fornicate”.

But it is never, ever used as “to support”. Instead, you “barrack for your football team”.

Cheers,
Harv

 

What’s funny and also cool is that everyone here seems to understand each other’s terms for parts ie: dizzy or distributor, carby or carburetor ,bump stick or or camshaft on and on…. Speaks volumes to the intelligence of the guys and guys who build and/or enjoy Hot rods and Customs. Speaking of hot rods I always wanted to become a professional rod polisher- but only on my own rods

 

I have no idea what you are talking about.

I'm simply saying that with the introduction of the internet, societies have begun to see terminology which was previously used almost exclusively by our friends in other countries even though both/all those countries languages are based from the "Kings English", just like ours is. We choose to use certain generally accepted terms and somewhat dislike variations. When England first began putting people on the continent of Australia.......motors didn't exist. So the word "dizzy" didn't get transported at that time and wasn't part of the English language as far as the distributor context. Dizzy meant a physical ailment.
Using the term "dizzy" to mean a distributor had to happen some time after society began to organize on the Australian continent. That doesn't mean they started it.....but it doesn't mean that they didn't.

So if Dizzy meaning distributor became an acceptable term, it most likely originated either in England or Australia and was because of the commonality of British English and Australias version. I don't think anyone can say who first used the term "dizzy" but it sounds to me more like something Aussies would do. Thats not a "put down", but an observation based on the more "laid back" attitude of its people. We will probably never know for sure where it started...........but I don't believe it was in the USA.

Exactly right, the internet and the techno wizards are bastardizing our language. I don't think we all need masters degrees in language, but constantly making up new words or variations does more harm than good. Maybe all the techo-wizards will like what I call them..............asoles.

 

I may have missed it by skipping directly to page 10, but what is a hog's head?

 

Come on mate, way too long. I'm too "laid back" to read all that.....

 

You mean like the original inhabitants of Australia...........the Aborigine, or is there some other cute trendy name for them these days?

View attachment 5909801

 

The only time I have ever encountered it was the old timers talking about tobacco. They would press it into a large barrel for transportation. It was called a hogshead. I believe it had to do with the large size of barrel.

 

Most of these abbreviations/slang terms came to pass when a techno-wizard was some one that used a slide rule.
Just think if there was no internet everyone would have to go to a rant rally and corral a fraction of the audience if you were lucky.

 

They seem to like change as to how they are referred to, it was 'Indigenous' for a while now they like 'First Nation's People'.
Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against them it is just becoming difficult not to offend them, to me we are all Australians. (Though this is somewhat O/T!)

As for 'Dizzy' that's what I knew them as growing up in the 70s-80's before learning that it was a 'Distributor'.

 

Chunk is worse! At least they resemble a pumpkin.

 

Ah but my friend, your pronunciation of 'Z' is three letters: Z-E-E. One, two, three.

Yes, it has been answered.

 

Good Post Doc. I was simply trying to invoke a little humor into the idea that mankind is so similar today compared to 2000 BC and the fact that mankind for the most part has changed...........far more educated and way more things to consider these days, yet there are always those that try to inject other ulterior motives into any conversation..........even a simple discussion over the origin of the use of "dizzy"

Personally I have the same feeling about us all being Americans first . Thanks for the input, especially the part about learning it was called a dizzy in Australia long before you learned it was actually a distributor.

 

Johnny Cash thought it was as he drove his physcobillycadillac in “One Piece at a Time”

 

Stop it or I will call the POPO

 

I think it’s all fun with car parts and names. For the most part it should stay in the county of origin. Other terms like “spot on” for the correct “right on” and “sorted” for “fixed” are now used by everyone about anything.
If I ever hear sportscasters or sports announcers at a baseball game say the score is 6 nil…. I’m getting out my shotgun and going hunting.

 

Yes, 6 nil, that's bad. Especially if your the nil side.

 

Can you repeat that so I can like it twice?

 

Your right 28 thanks

 

Took me half of forever to figure out what my Kiwi friends meant when they said, "have a good Arvo".

 

Why do we call it a connecting rod isn’t it a connecting beam

 

Some are round tubular.

 

I believe the term doghouse comes form the access hole in the floor on a COE (cab over engine truck) the cover over that hole is called the doghouse. These COE trucks came into use in the early 1930s because of length restrictions on the highways. Doghouse has been used for any access hole cover in automotive, trucks and all kinds of equipment.

 

Not certain how long ago I read about this term. Let's just say before I knew where Nam was.
The term, they said, grew from changingout pistons, for better compression. The wrist pins were easier to deal with after leaving the rods in a hot oven, especially overnight.

 

Yeah nothing like a self appointed car guy, to tell me he's got a 3/4 race cam in his engine, to confirm he and I are not the same. And are probably never going to talk cars. lol

 

Say what’s that out of???

 

Since some of this is way off track from automotive terms, it's dinner time and my wife always says, "come and make your plate" and I always say can't I just use one out of the "cupboard"? And that's a stupid word also.

 

My ol man always referred to the glove box, as "Jockey box" Not sure if I've ever had a pair of gloves in the glove box other than rubber gloves, in case of having to deal with someone that was leaking.
Then there is always the Wickerbill, that is connected to the 905, which helps lube the Hoovernator..

 

yeah we are!!!!

 

My Dad called it a Jockey Box too, never figured out why.