I apparently really like to use trucks (both pickup and the bigger types) as comparison points for satellite stuff.
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@teadrinker Where I grew up, we pronounced it sem-eye.
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@paperposts @sundogplanets If I understand things correctly, the British call the big tractor+trailer combinations an 'artic', short for articulated.
@roadskater @sundogplanets correct, well at least we did. also drivers would call the front end of that the ‘tractor’. lots of variations lorrys based on size/weight
smallish -3.5 tonne often a ‘truck’ or even van.
the US ‘truck’ is always a ‘pickup’
lorry also ‘box truck/box van’ but bigger than the 3.5 tonne type (more like the big moving trucks)
even remember’wagon’ but much more colloquial -
I apparently really like to use trucks (both pickup and the bigger types) as comparison points for satellite stuff. And all the local terminology variations for trucks are silly.
Which of the following would you recognize as a term to describe a large vehicle that has a detachable front part that drives and which can pull a large trailer (or 2 or 3)
@sundogplanets
Here in UK, the common term is an articulated lorry (or sometimes articulated truck), ‘artic’ for short. Most people probably don’t distinguish a separate term for the two parts, but ‘tractor’ and ‘trailer’ can be used. The front part is definitely not commonly called a truck, that term usually means an SUV-sized vehicle which Americans call a pickup. At least that’s my usage, others may vary. -
I apparently really like to use trucks (both pickup and the bigger types) as comparison points for satellite stuff. And all the local terminology variations for trucks are silly.
Which of the following would you recognize as a term to describe a large vehicle that has a detachable front part that drives and which can pull a large trailer (or 2 or 3)
In Australia, I say semi, or semi trailer. Usually just semi. Sem-ee, not sem-I. The front part I call a prime mover.
That hood in your other toot is usually a bonnet here, but you'd get away with hood.
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I apparently really like to use trucks (both pickup and the bigger types) as comparison points for satellite stuff. And all the local terminology variations for trucks are silly.
Which of the following would you recognize as a term to describe a large vehicle that has a detachable front part that drives and which can pull a large trailer (or 2 or 3)
@sundogplanets Maybe focus on the trailer part? Shipping containers are (I think) fairly globally standardized, though I’ve no idea if terms are.
Or are the satellites closer in size to the pulling vehicle than to the trailer / container?
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And definitely don't say it wouldn't fit in the boot!
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I apparently really like to use trucks (both pickup and the bigger types) as comparison points for satellite stuff. And all the local terminology variations for trucks are silly.
Which of the following would you recognize as a term to describe a large vehicle that has a detachable front part that drives and which can pull a large trailer (or 2 or 3)
@sundogplanets semi trailer, prime mover, B double, road train.
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I apparently really like to use trucks (both pickup and the bigger types) as comparison points for satellite stuff. And all the local terminology variations for trucks are silly.
Which of the following would you recognize as a term to describe a large vehicle that has a detachable front part that drives and which can pull a large trailer (or 2 or 3)
@sundogplanets 18-wheeler's another fairly common one 'round these parts.
I know what a lorry is but I don't expect to hear anyone say it in an American accent.
(I recently read an old UK Transformers comic where President Reagan refers to Optimus Prime as a "lorry" and was delighted by how glaringly out-of-place it was.)
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I apparently really like to use trucks (both pickup and the bigger types) as comparison points for satellite stuff. And all the local terminology variations for trucks are silly.
Which of the following would you recognize as a term to describe a large vehicle that has a detachable front part that drives and which can pull a large trailer (or 2 or 3)
@sundogplanets Hugh Laurie
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@sundogplanets Maybe focus on the trailer part? Shipping containers are (I think) fairly globally standardized, though I’ve no idea if terms are.
Or are the satellites closer in size to the pulling vehicle than to the trailer / container?
@darthnull I use trucks for comparisons for a lot of different things. Tonight I was doing kinetic energy comparisons between space debris and 100km/hr semi trucks...
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@keira_reckons HAHA Yank Tanks?!! Oh man that's hilarious
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I apparently really like to use trucks (both pickup and the bigger types) as comparison points for satellite stuff. And all the local terminology variations for trucks are silly.
Which of the following would you recognize as a term to describe a large vehicle that has a detachable front part that drives and which can pull a large trailer (or 2 or 3)
@sundogplanets
You could use the Universal size terminology of one Optimus Prime. -
I apparently really like to use trucks (both pickup and the bigger types) as comparison points for satellite stuff. And all the local terminology variations for trucks are silly.
Which of the following would you recognize as a term to describe a large vehicle that has a detachable front part that drives and which can pull a large trailer (or 2 or 3)
@sundogplanets Articulated lorry.
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I apparently really like to use trucks (both pickup and the bigger types) as comparison points for satellite stuff. And all the local terminology variations for trucks are silly.
Which of the following would you recognize as a term to describe a large vehicle that has a detachable front part that drives and which can pull a large trailer (or 2 or 3)
@sundogplanets I'd probably say semi (if we're only talking the big truck part, pronounced semmy) but once it's got the trailer or trailer attached, it's a b double.
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@sundogplanets I've largely used "semi", "semi-truck", "tractor trailer", and "18-wheeler" interchangeably
@drsbaitso @sundogplanets these are all terms that are unused here in the UK. Lorry, truck, or articulated lorry to specifically reference one that has a point that turns. They are driven by a truck driver. Lorry driver could also be used though less common now.
As someone else mentions almost all European trucks are can over engine so bonnet is flat vertical and pretty small. -
Ok this poll is way more interesting than I expected. I knew there were a lot of names for these large vehicles but I had NO IDEA how many terms.
B double? Artic?! Prime mover?
And so many opinions on "sem-ee" vs "sem-eye"
Turns out that language is COMPLICATED, my friends.
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I apparently really like to use trucks (both pickup and the bigger types) as comparison points for satellite stuff. And all the local terminology variations for trucks are silly.
Which of the following would you recognize as a term to describe a large vehicle that has a detachable front part that drives and which can pull a large trailer (or 2 or 3)
@sundogplanets
Interesting, there's a section of Wikipedia dedicated to different terms used:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-trailer_truck#Other_termsThe British terms listed all seem to refer to the whole vehicle. I seem to remember talking with my dad about the drive part, without the trailer attached, but I can't remember what term we used for it
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I apparently really like to use trucks (both pickup and the bigger types) as comparison points for satellite stuff. And all the local terminology variations for trucks are silly.
Which of the following would you recognize as a term to describe a large vehicle that has a detachable front part that drives and which can pull a large trailer (or 2 or 3)
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I apparently really like to use trucks (both pickup and the bigger types) as comparison points for satellite stuff. And all the local terminology variations for trucks are silly.
Which of the following would you recognize as a term to describe a large vehicle that has a detachable front part that drives and which can pull a large trailer (or 2 or 3)
@sundogplanets Semi vs. tractor-trailer is one of those markers the NY Times dialect bot uses to figure out if you grew up in New England or Middle America.
See also grinder/hoagie/sub/hero and water fountain/bubbler.
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Ok this poll is way more interesting than I expected. I knew there were a lot of names for these large vehicles but I had NO IDEA how many terms.
B double? Artic?! Prime mover?
And so many opinions on "sem-ee" vs "sem-eye"
Turns out that language is COMPLICATED, my friends.
Ah, yes! I forgot we use lorry as well as artic (articulated lorry) here in the UK. Lorry is more common though.
