[Ads-l] retronym?

dave@wilton.net dave at WILTON.NET
Wed Sep 1 12:11:10 UTC 2021


It does seem to be a retronym, but probably not a bugle.
 
Googling seems to indicate a "blow horn" is any horn-shaped advice through which a person blows air to make a sound. It can include anything from a megaphone to a brass instrument. It may or may not include compressed-air horns, depending on how persnickety one is about the definition. In this case, I'm thinking it was more likely something like a vuvuzela or air horn rather than a bugle, which takes some skill to use. (Plus, if it had been a bugle and the reporter didn't know what that was, they probably would have called it a "trumpet.")
 
"Blow horn" would definitely not include something like an automobile horn or a device that electronically vibrates the air to create sound. Which is why it would seem to be a retronym.
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: "Jonathan Lighter" <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, September 1, 2021 7:06am
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: [ADS-L] retronym?



https://www.yahoo.com/news/white-house-responds-plea-interpreter-234051930.html

"At the scene, Mohammed stood guard with Afghan Army soldiers on one side
of the helicopter, according to the Journal, and used a blow horn to shoo
off spectators."

A bugle?

JL

-- 
"If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."

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