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Discussion Groups / English Usage / February 2010Rawlplug
I understand that the type of fixing used in building to allow screws to be fitted in walls is called a Rawlplug in British English. Is this used in American English too? Or rather, is it the usual term? If not, do Americans say wall plug or what do they normally call that device? Many thanks in advance, Ho Holger Freese skrev: > I understand that the type of fixing used in building to allow screws to be > fitted in walls is called a Rawlplug in British English. Isn't "rawlplug" a specific brand? I use Fischer Dübel, and I call them "Fischer Dübel".  SignatureBertel, Denmark > Holger Freese skrev: > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Isn't "rawlplug" a specific brand? I use Fischer Dübel, and I > call them "Fischer Dübel". Yes, but the OP is right in saying in BrE it's a generic term, like Hoover. I've no idea what brand of rawlplugs are in my toolkit... DC -- > > Holger Freese skrev: > > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Yes, but the OP is right in saying in BrE it's a generic term, like > Hoover. I've no idea what brand of rawlplugs are in my toolkit... AFAIK the originals (containing asbestos fibres) no longer exist, Jan >>> Holger Freese skrev: >>> [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > AFAIK the originals (containing asbestos fibres) > no longer exist, http://www.rawlplug.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3&Itemid=3 http://tinyurl.com/ye7x2p4 Still around. No reason to think they ever contained asbestos although Rawlplug did produce a putty that contained asbestos fibres for use on crumbling walls: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_plug#Fibre_and_resin_mixes SignatureJohn Dean Oxford >> > Holger Freese skrev: >> > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > >Jan I'm not sure the Rawlplug fibre was asbestos. I recall the asbestos ones as (Phillips?) Philplug. You drilled the hole, then dampened some of the dry fibre/powder mix from the flat tin and rolled it in your hand into a 'rat dropping' which was pushed into the hole. Then you used a supplied small spike to make a starting hole into which you screwed the screw. It made a very strong fixing, if anything better than a Rawlplug, particularly if the latter hadn't matched the right size of drill and plug. It could easily cope with oversize or irregular holes in a bad wall. I'm not aware of any non-asbestos substitute being marketed - now, alas, plastic plugs prevail. Don. > I'm not sure the Rawlplug fibre was asbestos. I recall the asbestos > ones as (Phillips?) Philplug. You drilled the hole, then dampened some [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > I'm not aware of any non-asbestos substitute being marketed - now, > alas, plastic plugs prevail. I've done pretty well on areas with crumbly plaster where a previous plug has pulled out using car body filler in this manner. Nick, wondering vaguely if "car body filler" needs any hyphens. SignatureOnline waterways route planner | http://canalplan.eu Plan trips, see photos, check facilities | http://canalplan.org.uk >> I'm not sure the Rawlplug fibre was asbestos. I recall the asbestos >> ones as (Phillips?) Philplug. You drilled the hole, then dampened some [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > >Nick, wondering vaguely if "car body filler" needs any hyphens. Not if you write "Bondo" as we do in the US. SignatureTony Cooper - Orlando, Florida >>> I'm not sure the Rawlplug fibre was asbestos. I recall the >>> asbestos ones as (Phillips?) Philplug. You drilled the hole, then [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > Not if you write "Bondo" as we do in the US. Might do one, if you get "dum-dum". Use sparingly. SignatureFrank ess >>>> I'm not sure the Rawlplug fibre was asbestos. I recall the >>>> asbestos ones as (Phillips?) Philplug. You drilled the hole, then [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > >Might do one, if you get "dum-dum". Use sparingly. Being a car person, you may have followed the recent Daytona 500 where a 3' x 1' pothole opened in the track during the race. The officials stopped the race and filled the pothole with Bondo so they could finish the race. They went around to the pit teams to collect the Bondo. SignatureTony Cooper - Orlando, Florida >>>>> I'm not sure the Rawlplug fibre was asbestos. I recall the >>>>> asbestos ones as (Phillips?) Philplug. You drilled the hole, [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > they could finish the race. They went around to the pit teams to > collect the Bondo. That's interesting. Reminds me of the story about a time when nuclear submarines were new and kind of secret. One testing in the Pacific near San Francisco sprung a leak in a cooling-water system, and the crew couldn't find it. Finally someone had a bright idea and they went ashore to buy all the Stop-Leak they could find. It worked. I've lost interest in NASCAR since it became something other than a contest among different brands of car. Well, I do like to watch the two road-course races each year. Takes me back to seeing the big ol' stockers and the good ol' boys changing the shape of the track at Riverside, CA. I've driven quite a few hundred miles on that track, gone since 1988. SignatureFrank ess Holger Freese: > I understand that the type of fixing used in building to allow screws > to be fitted in walls is called a Rawlplug in British English. Yes, that's the name I learned from my father, and it's really a brand name. > Is this used in American English too? Or rather, is it the usual term? > If not, do Americans say wall plug or what do they normally call that > device? "Screw anchor" in hardware stores here. I presume that also applies in the US, but maybe not. I learned the term "wire nut" from an American book, then found out *that* word's not the term in hardware stores here -- it's a "marrette". Again, both terms really are brand names. (Personally, I still use "wire nut", and I still think "I need a rawlplug", although that brings to mind the fibrous plugs we used in the 1960s, not the modern plastic anchors.) SignatureMark Brader, Toronto "'Run me,' Alice?" msb@vex.net -- Tom Neff My text in this article is in the public domain. > Holger Freese: >> I understand that the type of fixing used in building to allow screws [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > and I still think "I need a rawlplug", although that brings to mind the > fibrous plugs we used in the 1960s, not the modern plastic anchors.) I still say and think 'Rawlplug', and the older assistants in hardware stores seem to do the same. Before electric drills, one used to make the hole with a special tool that had a triangular pointed 'drill' which one hammered into the wall. It was often quicker and neater and made less mess than using a drill, and it didn't need a nearby electric socket. SignatureMike Page Google me at port.ac.uk if you need to send an email. >> Holger Freese: >>> I understand that the type of fixing used in building to allow screws [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > hammered into the wall. It was often quicker and neater and made less > mess than using a drill, and it didn't need a nearby electric socket. Wasn't that called something like a Rawldrill? The original Rawlplugs were made from a fibrous material - I used to imagine that it must be called "rawl". SignatureDavid the Omrud wrote, in <jQ7gn.42509$Ym4.21905@text.news.virginmedia.com> on Sun, 21 Feb 2010 10:23:11 GMT: > > I still say and think 'Rawlplug', and the older assistants in hardware > > stores seem to do the same. Before electric drills, one used to make the [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > The original Rawlplugs were made from a fibrous material - I used to > imagine that it must be called "rawl". It was a play on words for "wall plug". From <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_plug>: "The original wall plug was invented by John Joseph Rawlings in 1911, and marketed under the name Rawlplug. This brand name has become genericised in the UK, being equally applied to wall plugs from competing manufacturers." SignatureNick Spalding BrE/IrE > > Holger Freese: > >> I understand that the type of fixing used in building to allow screws [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > hammered into the wall. It was often quicker and neater and made less > mess than using a drill, and it didn't need a nearby electric socket. I still have an inherited one somewhere. Heavy hexagonal steel holder, (you were supposed to rotate the thing between strokes) conical hole for taking bits, with replaceble bits. A cross-hole and a wedging tool allows the bit to be freed again from its conical hole after the hammering. Jan >>> Holger Freese: >>>> I understand that the type of fixing used in building to allow screws [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > > Jan That's the fellow. I have one, too, that I inherited from my Dad. It could still be a bugger to get the bit out if one hadn't needed to change the bit for a while. ISTR the bit is irretrievably stuck in mine, which is why I gave up using it. SignatureMike Page Google me at port.ac.uk if you need to send an email. > >>> Holger Freese: > >>>> I understand that the type of fixing used in building to allow screws [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > change the bit for a while. ISTR the bit is irretrievably stuck in mine, > which is why I gave up using it. I used mine in the days when electro-pneumatic hammer drills were unavailable, or too expensive. The mechanical ones were inadequate to smash some of the pebbles in concrete, and you could rattle on forever. A one kg hammer delivers many more of those joule thingies that they advertise so much with, Jan >Holger Freese: >> I understand that the type of fixing used in building to allow screws [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > >"Screw anchor" in hardware stores here. After looking at a picture of a rawlplug online, I see that it is an expandable anchor bolt. For American usages, see http://www.concretefasteners.com/ Signature************* DAVE HATUNEN (hatunen@cox.net) ************* * Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow * * My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps * >> Holger Freese: >>> I understand that the type of fixing used in building to allow [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > an expandable anchor bolt. For American usages, see > http://www.concretefasteners.com/ That sounds like an expandable anchor bolt to me! The ones called "Rawlbolts" are made by the Rawlplug company, which could have misled you. Plain ole "Rawlplugs" (I actually say "wall plugs") are various forms of little plastic tubes, or things like this: <http://www.machinemart.co.uk/images/library/range/large/0917.jpg> The original Rawlplugs were made of some kind of compressed fibre with a narrow pilot hole down the middle. They lasted well into the era of plastic versions because the plastic ones were regarded as dangerous in case of fire (or so I was told), and I think I've probably still got a few. SignatureMike. >>> Holger Freese: >>>> I understand that the type of fixing used in building to allow [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] >forms of little plastic tubes, or things like this: ><http://www.machinemart.co.uk/images/library/range/large/0917.jpg> So the ifrst thing Google shows me is a page with this jpeg: http://www.dhs-online.co.uk/images/Categories/Rawl%20Plugs.jpg >The original Rawlplugs were made of some kind of compressed fibre with a >narrow pilot hole down the middle. They lasted well into the era of >plastic versions because the plastic ones were regarded as dangerous in >case of fire (or so I was told), and I think I've probably still got a >few. Given the apparent genericization of "rawlplug," is the original that relevant here? Signature************* DAVE HATUNEN (hatunen@cox.net) ************* * Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow * * My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps * >So the ifrst thing Google shows me is a page with this jpeg: Is a "jpeg" a type of wall fixing? SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.usage.english) >>So the ifrst thing Google shows me is a page with this jpeg: > > Is a "jpeg" a type of wall fixing? Sure, it's a type of peg. SignatureWar is God's way of teaching Americans geography. [Ambrose Bierce] >>So the ifrst thing Google shows me is a page with this jpeg: > >Is a "jpeg" a type of wall fixing? If the question is serious, then, "no". It's a file format of an image created by the Joint Photographics Expert Group. The format, that is, not the image. SignatureTony Cooper - Orlando, Florida >>>So the ifrst thing Google shows me is a page with this jpeg: >> [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >image created by the Joint Photographics Expert Group. The format, >that is, not the image. The question was not serious. SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.usage.english) >>>> Holger Freese: >>>>> I understand that the type of fixing used in building to allow [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > Given the apparent genericization of "rawlplug," is the original > that relevant here? Certainly. I was replying to messages about the word. Of which the most recent was from you. SignatureMike. Mike Lyle wrote, in <hlseko$gfp$1@news.eternal-september.org> on Sun, 21 Feb 2010 23:12:26 -0000: > The original Rawlplugs were made of some kind of compressed fibre with a > narrow pilot hole down the middle. They lasted well into the era of > plastic versions because the plastic ones were regarded as dangerous in > case of fire (or so I was told), and I think I've probably still got a > few. Last week I took down a shelf in the bathroom to facilitate redecoration. I originally installed it in 1965 using those Rawlplugs and it went back up into the same ones. It has been down and up two or three times over the years. SignatureNick Spalding BrE/IrE Sun, 21 Feb 2010 09:15:25 +0100 from Holger Freese <holger@freese- privat.de>: > I understand that the type of fixing used in building to allow screws to be > fitted in walls is called a Rawlplug in British English. Is this used in > American English too? Or rather, is it the usual term? If not, do Americans > say wall plug or what do they normally call that device? If I understand what you are saying, the US term is a "wall anchor". Here's a nice page with descriptions and pictures of various types: http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/inffastener/infanchor/infanchor.html SignatureStan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA http://OakRoadSystems.com Shikata ga nai... >Sun, 21 Feb 2010 09:15:25 +0100 from Holger Freese <holger@freese- >privat.de>: [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > >http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/inffastener/infanchor/infanchor.html In BrE the plastic plugs are generally known as "wall plugs" The other types are generally "anchors". SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.usage.english) > > Sun, 21 Feb 2010 09:15:25 +0100 from Holger Freese <holger@freese- > > privat.de>: [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > In BrE the plastic plugs are generally known as "wall plugs" Not in this house they aren't. I suspect that may be what B&Q call them though. DC -- Sun, 21 Feb 2010 15:10:17 +0000 from Peter Duncanson (BrE) <mail@peterduncanson.net>: > In BrE the plastic plugs are generally known as "wall plugs" Here a "wall plug" is the thing that electricity comes out of. SignatureStan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA http://OakRoadSystems.com Shikata ga nai... >Sun, 21 Feb 2010 15:10:17 +0000 from Peter Duncanson (BrE) ><mail@peterduncanson.net>: >> In BrE the plastic plugs are generally known as "wall plugs" > >Here a "wall plug" is the thing that electricity comes out of. That might be understood here too, although I'd prefer "wall socket". My original comment about "wall plug" should be understood in the context of attaching things to walls. A surface mounted "wall plug" (electricity outlet) may well be attached to the wall using "wall plugs". SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.usage.english) Sun, 21 Feb 2010 20:57:00 +0000 from Peter Duncanson (BrE) <mail@peterduncanson.net>: > >Sun, 21 Feb 2010 15:10:17 +0000 from Peter Duncanson (BrE) > ><mail@peterduncanson.net>: [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > That might be understood here too, although I'd prefer "wall socket". Agreed. Properly, a plug is the thing that goes into the socket. But I think "wall plug" is what Fowler would call a sturdy indefensible. I suppose we could call it a "female electrical connector". :-) SignatureStan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA http://OakRoadSystems.com Shikata ga nai... > Agreed. Properly, a plug is the thing that goes into the socket. > But I think "wall plug" is what Fowler would call a sturdy > indefensible. > > I suppose we could call it a "female electrical connector". :-) We could (and do--I'm not sure I understand the smiley), but that's a broader term and applies equally well to lots of connectors at the ends of cords and on appliances. SignatureEvan Kirshenbaum +------------------------------------ HP Laboratories |You may hate gravity, but gravity 1501 Page Mill Road, 1U, MS 1141 |doesn't care. Palo Alto, CA 94304 | Clayton Christensen kirshenbaum@hpl.hp.com (650)857-7572 http://www.kirshenbaum.net/ >> Agreed. Properly, a plug is the thing that goes into the socket. >> But I think "wall plug" is what Fowler would call a sturdy [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >broader term and applies equally well to lots of connectors at the >ends of cords and on appliances. Indeed. This takes me back half a century to when I was servicing airborne electronic equipment that used connectors made by the Plessey company. The outer shell of a connector could be male or female. The contact blocks inside each shell could be male or female (plug or socket). The number of pins and the pin arrangement varied. The contact blocks could sometimes be fitted in different (rotational) positions. The female shells had keyways so that only a matching male shell would fit. There was a large number of possible combinations of a relatively few different components. There are images here: http://www.electrojumble.org.uk/connectors.htm Halfway down the page: Medium Fixed Socket: female shell, female contact block Medium Fixed Plug: female shell, male contact block Small Free Socket: male shell, female contact block Small Free Plug: male shell, male contact block Small Coupler Plug: female shell, male contact block SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.usage.english) >>> Agreed. Properly, a plug is the thing that goes into the socket. >>> But I think "wall plug" is what Fowler would call a sturdy [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > Small Free Plug: male shell, male contact block > Small Coupler Plug: female shell, male contact block Ford calls the socket from which you may by use of a suitable plug obtain live 12-volt electricity a "Power point". In my Mustangs there is one front and center in the "central stack" and one buried in a bottom corner of the center armrest/storage compartment. SignatureFrank ess >Ford calls the socket from which you may by use of a suitable plug >obtain live 12-volt electricity a "Power point". In my Mustangs there >is one front and center in the "central stack" and one buried in a >bottom corner of the center armrest/storage compartment. I would understand "power point" although I don't use the phrase very often. http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/power_point power point (plural power points) 1. A wall socket by which electricity is provided to electrical devices. SignaturePeter Duncanson, UK (in alt.usage.english) Frank Sheffield: >> Ford calls the socket from which you may by use of a suitable plug >> obtain live 12-volt electricity a "Power point". ... Peter Duncanson: > I would understand "power point" ... So would I -- I would understand it as British usage. SignatureMark Brader "Exercise 5-3: ... When should you Toronto have stopped adding features...?" msb@vex.net -- Kernighan & Pike >Frank Sheffield: >>> Ford calls the socket from which you may by use of a suitable plug [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > >So would I -- I would understand it as British usage. I think all modern cars have power points. Our Dodge Grand Caravan has several of them, front and rear. One of the front ones at the dash used to be for the cigar lighter, but cars don't seem to come with them anymore. Gone with the wing vent, which I miss. Signature************* DAVE HATUNEN (hatunen@cox.net) ************* * Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow * * My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps * Dave Hatunen: > I think all modern cars have power points. Our Dodge Grand > Caravan has several of them, front and rear. One of the front > ones at the dash used to be for the cigar lighter... "Cigarette lighter" is the name I know for that device. SignatureMark Brader "It's okay for us to love our country, Toronto but we ought to spend most of our time msb@vex.net making our country lovable." -- Andy Rooney >Dave Hatunen: >> I think all modern cars have power points. Our Dodge Grand >> Caravan has several of them, front and rear. One of the front >> ones at the dash used to be for the cigar lighter... > >"Cigarette lighter" is the name I know for that device. Prety much the same for me, actually, but I have heard and seen "cigar lighter". I seem to recall that's what Sinclair Lewis called it in "Babbit". I reckon the "cigar" usage still clung on when I was a child as a consequence of the fact that at one time only the the properous owned cars and they smoked cigars. Signature************* DAVE HATUNEN (hatunen@cox.net) ************* * Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow * * My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps * >Frank Sheffield: >>> Ford calls the socket from which you may by use of a suitable plug [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > >So would I -- I would understand it as British usage. "Power point" is the standard Australian term, in my experience anyway. SignatureRichard Bollard Canberra Australia To email, I'm at AMT not spAMT. > Sun, 21 Feb 2010 20:57:00 +0000 from Peter Duncanson (BrE) > <mail@peterduncanson.net>: [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > I suppose we could call it a "female electrical connector". :-) I was in a hotel yesterday with a load of British Gas vans in the car park, many of which were driven by female gas connectors. SignatureDavid >> In BrE the plastic plugs are generally known as "wall plugs" > Here a "wall plug" is the thing that electricity comes out of. Surely a "wall plug" is what electricity *goes into*. It comes out of a "wall socket" or an "electrical outlet" or .... And yes, I too remember from UK the original "Rawlplugs" and the accompanying tool. If the term has become generic, it's just like "Kleenex," "Scotch tape," "Formica," "BandAid," etc. Perce >>> In BrE the plastic plugs are generally known as "wall plugs" > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > accompanying tool. If the term has become generic, it's just like > "Kleenex," "Scotch tape," "Formica," "BandAid," etc. When I rewired our first house, I discovered that electricians call the thing in the wall a "plug" and the thing you fit into it a "plug top". SignatureDavid >>>> In BrE the plastic plugs are generally known as "wall plugs" >>> Here a "wall plug" is the thing that electricity comes out of. >> Surely a "wall plug" is what electricity *goes into*. It comes out of a >> "wall socket" or an "electrical outlet" or .... >> >> And yes, I too remember from UK the original "Rawlplugs" and the >> accompanying tool. If the term has become generic, it's just like >> "Kleenex," "Scotch tape," "Formica," "BandAid," etc. > When I rewired our first house, I discovered that electricians call the > thing in the wall a "plug" and the thing you fit into it a "plug top". Isn't that only Britspeak? I was surprised to see the term in a UK hardware/electrical store on my most recent visit. I'm not aware that it's used in USA or Oz. Perce >> Here a "wall plug" is the thing that electricity comes out of. > Surely a "wall plug" is what electricity *goes into*. It comes out of a > "wall socket" or an "electrical outlet" or .... I thought a wall plug or wall socket is what electricity flows *through*...? SignatureAndy Clews University of Sussex *** Remove DENTURES if replying by email *** >>> Here a "wall plug" is the thing that electricity comes out of. > >> Surely a "wall plug" is what electricity *goes into*. It comes out of a >> "wall socket" or an "electrical outlet" or .... > > I thought a wall plug or wall socket is what electricity flows *through*...? Since Westinghouse beat Edison, it goes back and forth through it. Now if Tesla had won, things would be interesting. SignatureBob just used 'canonical' in the canonical way. [Guy Steele] >>>> Here a "wall plug" is the thing that electricity comes out of. >> [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > >Now if Tesla had won, things would be interesting. Tesla did win. He was the brain behind Westinghouse's adoption of alternating current. http://flyingmoose.org/truthfic/tesla.htm Signature************* DAVE HATUNEN (hatunen@cox.net) ************* * Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow * * My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps * > >> Thus spake Percival P. Cassidy (Nobody@notmyisp.net) unto the assembled > >>multitudes: [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > Tesla did win. He was the brain behind Westinghouse's adoption of > alternating current. http://flyingmoose.org/truthfic/tesla.htm Only half-way. America is still stuck with Edison's too low 110 Volt system. Jan >> Tesla did win. He was the brain behind Westinghouse's adoption of >> alternating current. http://flyingmoose.org/truthfic/tesla.htm > >Only half-way. >America is still stuck with Edison's too low 110 Volt system. Please define "too low". Signature************* DAVE HATUNEN (hatunen@cox.net) ************* * Tucson Arizona, out where the cacti grow * * My typos & mispellings are intentional copyright traps * >>> I thought a wall plug or wall socket is what electricity flows *through*...? >> [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Tesla did win. Not in the long term. That short-termist dirtbag Morgan pulled the plug (groan) on his research. > He was the brain behind Westinghouse's adoption of > alternating current. http://flyingmoose.org/truthfic/tesla.htm Well, I was thinking more of wireless power transmission. Dangerous stuff, Timmy! SignatureOh, I am just a student, sir, and I only want to learn But it's hard to read through the rising smoke of the books that you want to burn [Phil Ochs] >>> Here a "wall plug" is the thing that electricity comes out of. > >> Surely a "wall plug" is what electricity *goes into*. It comes out of a >> "wall socket" or an "electrical outlet" or .... > >I thought a wall plug or wall socket is what electricity flows *through*...? There is no such thing, to my knowledge, as a "wall plug", for they would be highly dangerous if they were the source of the electricity, only a "wall socket". SignatureRegards, Chuck Riggs, An American who lives near Dublin, Ireland and usually spells in BrE >>Thus spake Percival P. Cassidy (Nobody@notmyisp.net) unto the >>assembled multitudes: [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > would be highly dangerous if they were the source of the > electricity, only a "wall socket". Or "outlet". I think I'm likely to have used the word loosely in that sense, though (as in "Where's the nearest plug?"). The OED says "Also: a socket for receiving such a plug" and appears to cite it back to 1945. ("Plug" in the sense of the thing you plug into an electrical outlet is cited back to 1883.) Apparently, this has been going on for quite some time: [Attn Jesse Sheidlower: OED antedating] ... the apparatus can be attached to any wall plug, and can be easily taken from place to place and used where required. _The Westminster Hospital Reports, Vol. 8_, 1893 The term 'wall-plug' is often used loosely for the wall-socket, but, as theyare two entirely separate things, it is well to keep them quite distinct in the mind. Hubert Walter, _Electric Lighting for the Inexperienced_, 1904 You got that idea from yonder wall-plug, into which goes the plunger of the reading lamp on the cabinet yonder. Fred White, _The Crimson Blind_, 1905 SignatureEvan Kirshenbaum +------------------------------------ HP Laboratories |We never met anyone who believed in 1501 Page Mill Road, 1U, MS 1141 |fortune cookies. That's astounding. Palo Alto, CA 94304 |Belief in the precognitive powers |of an Asian pastry is really no kirshenbaum@hpl.hp.com |wackier than belief in ESP, (650)857-7572 |subluxation, or astrology, but you |just don't hear anyone preaching http://www.kirshenbaum.net/ |Scientific Cookie-ism. | Penn and Teller <snip> >> There is no such thing, to my knowledge, as a "wall plug", for they >> would be highly dangerous if they were the source of the >> electricity, only a "wall socket". > >Or "outlet". Yes. I was using a generic engineering term. A "socket" applies to many types of feminine, if you will, input devices, with various numbers, arrangements and sizes of inputs, whereas an "outlet" is, by its definition, more constrained. >I think I'm likely to have used the word loosely in that >sense, though (as in "Where's the nearest plug?"). I caught myself doing the same thing, just recently. <snip> SignatureRegards, Chuck Riggs, An American who lives near Dublin, Ireland and usually spells in BrE > <snip> > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Yes. I was using a generic engineering term. A "socket" applies to > many types of feminine, "Female", in my experience. Connectors are "male", "female", and "hermaphroditic". Although the property is typically called "gender" rather than "sex" and a converter that turns a male connector into a female one (or vice versa) is a "gender changer" (or "gender bender"), not a "sex changer". > if you will, input devices, with various numbers, arrangements and > sizes of inputs, whereas an "outlet" is, by its definition, more [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > <snip> SignatureEvan Kirshenbaum +------------------------------------ HP Laboratories |To express oneself 1501 Page Mill Road, 1U, MS 1141 |In seventeen syllables Palo Alto, CA 94304 |Is very diffic | Tony Finch kirshenbaum@hpl.hp.com (650)857-7572 http://www.kirshenbaum.net/ Sun, 21 Feb 2010 17:16:04 -0500 from Percival P. Cassidy <Nobody@NotMyISP.net>: > >> In BrE the plastic plugs are generally known as "wall plugs" > > > Here a "wall plug" is the thing that electricity comes out of. > > Surely a "wall plug" is what electricity *goes into*. It comes out of a > "wall socket" or an "electrical outlet" or .... No, no. The plug is the thing you put into the wall to prevent the electricity leaking out. Otherwise why call it a "plug"? :-) SignatureStan Brown, Oak Road Systems, Tompkins County, New York, USA http://OakRoadSystems.com Shikata ga nai... > Sun, 21 Feb 2010 17:16:04 -0500 from Percival P. Cassidy > <Nobody@NotMyISP.net>: [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > No, no. The plug is the thing you put into the wall to prevent the > electricity leaking out. Otherwise why call it a "plug"? :-) Sure, the best of Hollywood science shows it doing so. You can often see the electricity crawl out, in the form of creeping blue zig-zag tracks which show you where it goes. Jan > No, no. The plug is the thing you put into the wall to prevent the > electricity leaking out. Otherwise why call it a "plug"? :-) BARKER: Got any plugs? CORBETT: Plugs. What kind of plugs? BARKER: A rubber one, bathroom. (Ronnie Corbett gets out a box of bath plugs, and places it on the counter) CORBETT (pulling out two different sized plugs): What size? BARKER: Thirteen amp! Transcript here: http://www.angelfire.com/me/tvcomedy/fourcandles.html But the video is better: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu9MptWyCB8 SignatureNobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public. [Mencken] > Sun, 21 Feb 2010 09:15:25 +0100 from Holger Freese <holger@freese- > privat.de>: [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/inffastener/infanchor/infanchor.html And I know them as drywall anchors. SignatureAl in St. Lou > I understand that the type of fixing used in building to allow screws to be > fitted in walls is called a Rawlplug in British English. Is this used in [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Ho Rawlpug is a brand of wallplug which has been around for a long time and was probably the market leader until so many other similar products came onto the market. They used to be made of lightly tarred fibre, but are plastic these days. "Rawlpug" in the UK has become the generic term for a wallplug, in rather the same way as "Hoover" or "Thermos" has for vaccum cleaner and vacuum flask. Most people I know refer to any type of wall plugs as "Rawlplugs". David, Hull N.E. Cost of England |
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