fireplug

[Richard A. Spears]

I recall hearing both from the 1940s onward in the Kansas City area.

_Hydrant_ was any outdoor faucet, but not a decorative indoor fixture.
_Water Hydrant_ was an outdoor faucet you could drink from, i.e., a drinking
fountain.
_Fire Hydrant_  was/is a hydrant for fire fighting.
_Fireplug_  was/is the funny squat thing that some people call a  _fire
hydrant_.

I viewed _hydrant_ as an older usage and the one most likely to be used by
teachers
and grandparents.

R. Spears

----- Original Message -----
From: "Luanne von Schneidemesser" <lvonschn at WISC.EDU>; "Luanne von
Schneidemesser" <lvonschn at WISC.EDU>
To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>; <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2004 3:24 PM
Subject: fireplug


> ---------------------- 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
>