fireplug

[Barnhart]

Dear Luanne (again),

While I'm waiting for some response in the school library, I searched
Google for fireplug ~ fire plug ~ fire hydrant.  The results were 4170 for
fireplug, 11,000+ for fire plug, and 93000+ for fire hydrant.  I'll check
Nexis at Vassar College library.

I just asked the Spanish teacher here.  She is a native speaker of
Spanish, but grew up in NYC.  She recalls calling it in English _the pump_
or _fire hydrant_.

Regards,
Dave

American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> writes:
>---------------------- Information from the mail header
>-----------------------
>Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>Poster:       Barnhart <barnhart at HIGHLANDS.COM>
>Subject:      Re: fireplug
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Dear Luanne,
>
>I lived my first four years in the Chicago suburbs.  It is there that I
>probably heard the first references to this community institution.  My
>recollection is that _fireplug_ preceded _fire hydrant_ in my lexicon.
>>From age four onward I have lived in the Hudson Valley within commuting
>distance of NYC.  I suspect that is where I picked up _fire hydrant_.  My
>sons (12 and 13) I think use fire hydrant.  I will
>take a little survey of the middle school usage for you.
>
>American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> writes:
>>---------------------- Information from the mail header
>>-----------------------
>>Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
>>Poster:       Luanne von Schneidemesser <lvonschn at WISC.EDU>
>>Subject:      fireplug
>>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>>Anyone know if fireplug (=fire hydrant) is regional?  If so, where?  A
>>woman originally from Ohio says she uses it (and people laugh at her).
>We
>>didn't ask about this when interviewing for DARE.
>>
>>Thanks.
>>
>>Luanne
>>
>