I apparently really like to use trucks (both pickup and the bigger types) as comparison points for satellite stuff.
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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.
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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 would interpret "Lorry" as "British for any truck (not necessarily a tractor-trailer)", and would add "18-wheeler" to the list.
(Regional dialect: Southern Ontario)
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@spacelizard @sundogplanets with the cab over engine designs in Europe the whole cab can flip up to access the engine. The term semi is something I'm only aware of due to having some Americans in my feed and having watched some American YouTube channels.
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@sundogplanets Articulated lorry.
@rupert @sundogplanets That's the one. Artic for short.
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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)
Sem-ee, and never semi truck
West coast US
We have a name for the truck part without the trailer, and dangit I cannot think of it right now
Most of them are cabovers nowdays though, so there is no hood
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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.
@sundogplanets Is Artic a brand name of them, maybe? "Mack Truck" is a company name that my mother used to use as a generic name for them.
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@sundogplanets are folks still saying, "A Large Boulder the Size of a Small Boulder"?
Always.
‘Large boulder the size of a small boulder’: San Miguel Sheriff celebrates five years since iconic tweet
The San Miguel Sheriff’s Office is celebrating five years since an iconic social media post – and shouting out its author – on Monday.
Denver 7 Colorado News (KMGH) (www.denver7.com)
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I once tried to describe the piece of SpaceX Crew Dragon Trunk debris that was first discovered as being "about the shape and size of a semi-truck hood" for a BBC podcast, and all the very British people interviewing me were like... "Excuse me, a what?" To which I responded "Uhhhh is that a lorry?" and then they later cut in me saying "lorry" in a different tone of voice with my initial description, which I don't think even makes sense... Pretty funny if you know that whole story though.
@sundogplanets Yeah, Lorry is absolutely the right term in British English.
