"A submunition warhead is perfect for striking large installations
crowded with unprotected equipment. An airfield, for example, with its
fragile airplanes, helicopters, fuel [bowsers] and support equipment."
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/10/22/ukraines-american-made-m39-missiles-may-have-wrecked-21-russian-helicopters-in-a-single-operation/

chiefly Australia
: a pump usually at a service station for dispensing liquid fuels, especially gasoline
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bowsers

It's interestingly odd that Forbes would use an obscure Australian
trademark, which, as far as I can tell, is essentially local slang,
for something that happened in Putin's War in Ukraine.

Makes no sense to me for them to use Australian slang in such an article.
But maybe the slang [bowsers] is more well known than I think it may be?

[bowsers] Is the author misusing the trademark or is it familiar to you?

On 23/10/2023 17:34, Ken Blake wrote:
> "A submunition warhead is perfect for striking large installations
> crowded with unprotected equipment. An airfield, for example, with its
> fragile airplanes, helicopters, fuel [bowsers] and support equipment."
> https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/10/22/ukraines-american-made-m39-missiles-may-have-wrecked-21-russian-helicopters-in-a-single-operation/
>
> chiefly Australia
> : a pump usually at a service station for dispensing liquid fuels, especially gasoline
> https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bowsers
>
> It's interestingly odd that Forbes would use an obscure Australian
> trademark, which, as far as I can tell, is essentially local slang,
> for something that happened in Putin's War in Ukraine.
>
> Makes no sense to me for them to use Australian slang in such an article.
> But maybe the slang [bowsers] is more well known than I think it may be?
>
> [bowsers] Is the author misusing the trademark or is it familiar to you?
>

Fuel bowsers are common in the British forces. Common name for
refuelling trucks. See also airports.

--
Chris Elvidge, England
I WILL ONLY DO THIS ONCE A YEAR

On 2023-10-23 10:40, Chris Elvidge wrote:
> On 23/10/2023 17:34, Ken Blake wrote:
>>    "A submunition warhead is perfect for striking large installations
>> crowded with unprotected equipment. An airfield, for example, with its
>> fragile airplanes, helicopters, fuel [bowsers] and support equipment."
>> https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/10/22/ukraines-american-made-m39-missiles-may-have-wrecked-21-russian-helicopters-in-a-single-operation/
>>
>> chiefly Australia
>> : a pump usually at a service station for dispensing liquid fuels,
>> especially gasoline
>> https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bowsers
>>
>> It's interestingly odd that Forbes would use an obscure Australian
>> trademark, which, as far as I can tell, is essentially local slang,
>> for something that happened in Putin's War in Ukraine.
>>
>> Makes no sense to me for them to use Australian slang in such an article.
>> But maybe the slang [bowsers] is more well known than I think it may be?
>>
>> [bowsers] Is the author misusing the trademark or is it familiar to you?
>>
>
> Fuel bowsers are common in the British forces. Common name for
> refuelling trucks. See also airports.

That's also what the RCAF calls them.

--
I asked a German gentleman if he knew the square root of 81.
He said No.

On 23/10/2023 17:34, Ken Blake wrote:
> "A submunition warhead is perfect for striking large installations
> crowded with unprotected equipment. An airfield, for example, with its
> fragile airplanes, helicopters, fuel [bowsers] and support equipment."
> https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/10/22/ukraines-american-made-m39-missiles-may-have-wrecked-21-russian-helicopters-in-a-single-operation/
>
> chiefly Australia
> : a pump usually at a service station for dispensing liquid fuels, especially gasoline
> https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bowsers
>
> It's interestingly odd that Forbes would use an obscure Australian
> trademark, which, as far as I can tell, is essentially local slang,
> for something that happened in Putin's War in Ukraine.
>
> Makes no sense to me for them to use Australian slang in such an article.
> But maybe the slang [bowsers] is more well known than I think it may be?
>
> [bowsers] Is the author misusing the trademark or is it familiar to you?

We've been here before. Familiar usage in BrE for fuel; and water
bowsers were a common sight during the drought of 1976 in the UK:

<https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/20294585.readers-memories-long-hot-summer-1976/>

--
Phil B

On 23-Oct-23 18:25, lar3ryca wrote:
> On 2023-10-23 10:40, Chris Elvidge wrote:
>> On 23/10/2023 17:34, Ken Blake wrote:
>>>    "A submunition warhead is perfect for striking large installations
>>> crowded with unprotected equipment. An airfield, for example, with its
>>> fragile airplanes, helicopters, fuel [bowsers] and support equipment."
>>> https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/10/22/ukraines-american-made-m39-missiles-may-have-wrecked-21-russian-helicopters-in-a-single-operation/
>>>
>>> chiefly Australia
>>> : a pump usually at a service station for dispensing liquid fuels,
>>> especially gasoline
>>> https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bowsers
>>>
>>> It's interestingly odd that Forbes would use an obscure Australian
>>> trademark, which, as far as I can tell, is essentially local slang,
>>> for something that happened in Putin's War in Ukraine.
>>>
>>> Makes no sense to me for them to use Australian slang in such an
>>> article.
>>> But maybe the slang [bowsers] is more well known than I think it may be?
>>>
>>> [bowsers] Is the author misusing the trademark or is it familiar to you?
>>>
>>
>> Fuel bowsers are common in the British forces. Common name for
>> refuelling trucks. See also airports.
>
> That's also what the RCAF calls them.
>
I'm sure this is a repeat from a few months back.
Someone made assumptions about "Bowser" being a very obscure term, and
the whole thing was fully explained back then.

I wonder if there is any good reason for this stuff to be recycled?

--
Sam Plusnet

On 2023-10-23 18:52:45 +0000, Sam Plusnet said:

> On 23-Oct-23 18:25, lar3ryca wrote:
>> On 2023-10-23 10:40, Chris Elvidge wrote:
>>> On 23/10/2023 17:34, Ken Blake wrote:
>>>>    "A submunition warhead is perfect for striking large installations
>>>> crowded with unprotected equipment. An airfield, for example, with its
>>>> fragile airplanes, helicopters, fuel [bowsers] and support equipment."
>>>> https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/10/22/ukraines-american-made-m39-missiles-may-have-wrecked-21-russian-helicopters-in-a-single-operation/
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> chiefly Australia
>>>> : a pump usually at a service station for dispensing liquid fuels,
>>>> especially gasoline
>>>> https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bowsers
>>>>
>>>> It's interestingly odd that Forbes would use an obscure Australian
>>>> trademark, which, as far as I can tell, is essentially local slang,
>>>> for something that happened in Putin's War in Ukraine.
>>>>
>>>> Makes no sense to me for them to use Australian slang in such an article.
>>>> But maybe the slang [bowsers] is more well known than I think it may be?
>>>>
>>>> [bowsers] Is the author misusing the trademark or is it familiar to you?
>>>>
>>>
>>> Fuel bowsers are common in the British forces. Common name for
>>> refuelling trucks. See also airports.
>>
>> That's also what the RCAF calls them.
>>
> I'm sure this is a repeat from a few months back.
> Someone made assumptions about "Bowser" being a very obscure term, and
> the whole thing was fully explained back then.

I have to confess that the only Bowser I know of is Bruce.
>
> I wonder if there is any good reason for this stuff to be recycled?

--
Athel -- French and British, living in Marseilles for 36 years; mainly
in England until 1987.

On 24/10/2023 6:36 a.m., Phil wrote:
> On 23/10/2023 17:34, Ken Blake wrote:
>>    "A submunition warhead is perfect for striking large installations
>> crowded with unprotected equipment. An airfield, for example, with its
>> fragile airplanes, helicopters, fuel [bowsers] and support equipment."
>> https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/10/22/ukraines-american-made-m39-missiles-may-have-wrecked-21-russian-helicopters-in-a-single-operation/
>>
>>
>> chiefly Australia
>> : a pump usually at a service station for dispensing liquid fuels,
>> especially gasoline
>> https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bowsers
>>
>> It's interestingly odd that Forbes would use an obscure Australian
>> trademark, which, as far as I can tell, is essentially local slang,
>> for something that happened in Putin's War in Ukraine.
>>
>> Makes no sense to me for them to use Australian slang in such an article.
>> But maybe the slang [bowsers] is more well known than I think it may be?
>>
>> [bowsers] Is the author misusing the trademark or is it familiar to you?
>
> We've been here before. Familiar usage in BrE for fuel; and water
> bowsers were a common sight during the drought of 1976 in the UK:
>
> <https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/20294585.readers-memories-long-hot-summer-1976/>

All explained here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvanus_Bowser

On 23/10/2023 19:52, Sam Plusnet wrote:
> On 23-Oct-23 18:25, lar3ryca wrote:
>> On 2023-10-23 10:40, Chris Elvidge wrote:
>>> On 23/10/2023 17:34, Ken Blake wrote:
>>>> "A submunition warhead is perfect for striking large installations
>>>> crowded with unprotected equipment. An airfield, for example, with its
>>>> fragile airplanes, helicopters, fuel [bowsers] and support equipment."
>>>> https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/10/22/ukraines-american-made-m39-missiles-may-have-wrecked-21-russian-helicopters-in-a-single-operation/
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> chiefly Australia
>>>> : a pump usually at a service station for dispensing liquid fuels,
>>>> especially gasoline
>>>> https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bowsers
>>>>
>>>> It's interestingly odd that Forbes would use an obscure Australian
>>>> trademark, which, as far as I can tell, is essentially local slang,
>>>> for something that happened in Putin's War in Ukraine.
>>>>
>>>> Makes no sense to me for them to use Australian slang in such an
>>>> article.
>>>> But maybe the slang [bowsers] is more well known than I think it may
>>>> be?
>>>>
>>>> [bowsers] Is the author misusing the trademark or is it familiar to
>>>> you?
>>>>
>>>
>>> Fuel bowsers are common in the British forces. Common name for
>>> refuelling trucks. See also airports.
>>
>> That's also what the RCAF calls them.
>>
> I'm sure this is a repeat from a few months back.
> Someone made assumptions about "Bowser" being a very obscure term, and
> the whole thing was fully explained back then.
>
> I wonder if there is any good reason for this stuff to be recycled?
>

Better for the environment, innit?

--
Chris Elvidge, England
I WILL NOT TEACH OTHERS TO FLY

On Monday, October 23, 2023 at 2:00:42 PM UTC-6, Chris Elvidge wrote:
> On 23/10/2023 19:52, Sam Plusnet wrote:
> > On 23-Oct-23 18:25, lar3ryca wrote:
> >> On 2023-10-23 10:40, Chris Elvidge wrote:
> >>> On 23/10/2023 17:34, Ken Blake wrote:
> >>>> "A submunition warhead is perfect for striking large installations
> >>>> crowded with unprotected equipment. An airfield, for example, with its
> >>>> fragile airplanes, helicopters, fuel [bowsers] and support equipment.."
> >>>> https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/10/22/ukraines-american-made-m39-missiles-may-have-wrecked-21-russian-helicopters-in-a-single-operation/
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> chiefly Australia
> >>>> : a pump usually at a service station for dispensing liquid fuels,
> >>>> especially gasoline
> >>>> https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bowsers
> >>>>
> >>>> It's interestingly odd that Forbes would use an obscure Australian
> >>>> trademark, which, as far as I can tell, is essentially local slang,
> >>>> for something that happened in Putin's War in Ukraine.
....

> >>> Fuel bowsers are common in the British forces. Common name for
> >>> refuelling trucks. See also airports.
> >>
> >> That's also what the RCAF calls them.
> >>
> > I'm sure this is a repeat from a few months back.
> > Someone made assumptions about "Bowser" being a very obscure term, and
> > the whole thing was fully explained back then.
> >
> > I wonder if there is any good reason for this stuff to be recycled?
> >
> Better for the environment, innit?

I don't know. If you just put it in the ground, it might make good fertilizer.

--
Jerry Friedman

In article <uh67b8$17l6j$1@paganini.bofh.team>,
Ken@OneOfMany.com says...
>
> "A submunition warhead is perfect for striking large installations
> crowded with unprotected equipment. An airfield, for example, with its
> fragile airplanes, helicopters, fuel [bowsers] and support equipment."
> https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/10/22/ukraines-american-made-m39-missiles-may-have-wrecked-21-russian-helicopters-in-a-single-operation/
>
> chiefly Australia
> : a pump usually at a service station for dispensing liquid fuels, especially gasoline
> https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bowsers
>
> It's interestingly odd that Forbes would use an obscure Australian
> trademark, which, as far as I can tell, is essentially local slang,
> for something that happened in Putin's War in Ukraine.
>
> Makes no sense to me for them to use Australian slang in such an article.
> But maybe the slang [bowsers] is more well known than I think it may be?
>
> [bowsers] Is the author misusing the trademark or is it familiar to you?

In Br E, bowser is not a trademark. It's the common
term for a tank on wheels, holding water or fuel.

Janet

On Monday, October 23, 2023 at 10:08:58 PM UTC+1, Janet wrote:
> In article <uh67b8$17l6j$1...@paganini.bofh.team>,
> K...@OneOfMany.com says...
> >
> > "A submunition warhead is perfect for striking large installations
> > crowded with unprotected equipment. An airfield, for example, with its
> > fragile airplanes, helicopters, fuel [bowsers] and support equipment."
> > https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/10/22/ukraines-american-made-m39-missiles-may-have-wrecked-21-russian-helicopters-in-a-single-operation/
> >
> > chiefly Australia
> > : a pump usually at a service station for dispensing liquid fuels, especially gasoline
> > https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bowsers
> >
> > It's interestingly odd that Forbes would use an obscure Australian
> > trademark, which, as far as I can tell, is essentially local slang,
> > for something that happened in Putin's War in Ukraine.
> >
> > Makes no sense to me for them to use Australian slang in such an article.
> > But maybe the slang [bowsers] is more well known than I think it may be?
> >
> > [bowsers] Is the author misusing the trademark or is it familiar to you?
> In Br E, bowser is not a trademark. It's the common
> term for a tank on wheels, holding water or fuel.
>
> Janet

Of course it is. The people who nowadays drive (or even walk?) around watering
flowers in the summer, drag "a bowser" behind them.

On 24/10/23 08:08, Janet wrote:
> In article <uh67b8$17l6j$1@paganini.bofh.team>, Ken@OneOfMany.com
> says...
>>
>> "A submunition warhead is perfect for striking large installations
>> crowded with unprotected equipment. An airfield, for example, with
>> its fragile airplanes, helicopters, fuel [bowsers] and support
>> equipment."
>> https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/10/22/ukraines-american-made-m39-missiles-may-have-wrecked-21-russian-helicopters-in-a-single-operation/
>>
>>
>>
chiefly Australia
>> : a pump usually at a service station for dispensing liquid fuels,
>> especially gasoline
>> https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bowsers
>>
>> It's interestingly odd that Forbes would use an obscure Australian
>> trademark, which, as far as I can tell, is essentially local
>> slang, for something that happened in Putin's War in Ukraine.
>>
>> Makes no sense to me for them to use Australian slang in such an
>> article. But maybe the slang [bowsers] is more well known than I
>> think it may be?
>>
>> [bowsers] Is the author misusing the trademark or is it familiar to
>> you?
>
> In Br E, bowser is not a trademark. It's the common term for a tank
> on wheels, holding water or fuel.

I've learnt one thing from this thread. It had never occurred to me that
"bowser" might originally have been a trade mark.

For what it's worth, I did know that "furphy" was originally a company name.

--
Peter Moylan http://www.pmoylan.org
Newcastle, NSW

Ken Blake <Ken@OneOfMany.com> wrote:

> "A submunition warhead is perfect for striking large installations
> crowded with unprotected equipment. An airfield, for example, with its
> fragile airplanes, helicopters, fuel [bowsers] and support equipment."
> https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/10/22/ukraines-american-made-m39-mi
ssiles-may-have-wrecked-21-russian-helicopters-in-a-single-operation/
>
> chiefly Australia
> : a pump usually at a service station for dispensing liquid fuels,
> especially gasoline
> https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bowsers
>
> It's interestingly odd that Forbes would use an obscure Australian
> trademark, which, as far as I can tell, is essentially local slang,
> for something that happened in Putin's War in Ukraine.
>
> Makes no sense to me for them to use Australian slang in such an article.
> But maybe the slang [bowsers] is more well known than I think it may be?
>
> [bowsers] Is the author misusing the trademark or is it familiar to you?

More trivia, I read somewhere that the seemingly unpronounceable ATACMS
is supposed to be pronounced as Attack'ms,

Jan

Le 23/10/2023 à 19:52, Sam Plusnet a écrit :
> On 23-Oct-23 18:25, lar3ryca wrote:
>> On 2023-10-23 10:40, Chris Elvidge wrote:
>>> On 23/10/2023 17:34, Ken Blake wrote:
>>>>
>>>> [bowsers] Is the author misusing the trademark or is it familiar to
>>>> you?
>>>
>>> Fuel bowsers are common in the British forces. Common name for
>>> refuelling trucks. See also airports.
>>
>> That's also what the RCAF calls them.
>>
> I'm sure this is a repeat from a few months back.
> Someone made assumptions about "Bowser" being a very obscure term, and
> the whole thing was fully explained back then.

Yes, well remembered. Back in December you replied to my joke:

<https://groups.google.com/g/alt.usage.english/c/7NyZSNPN4JA/m/Brr-RZzHBQAJ>

> I wonder if there is any good reason for this stuff to be recycled?

Le 24/10/2023 à 10:52, Hibou a écrit :
> Le 23/10/2023 à 19:52, Sam Plusnet a écrit :
>> On 23-Oct-23 18:25, lar3ryca wrote:
>>> On 2023-10-23 10:40, Chris Elvidge wrote:
>>>> On 23/10/2023 17:34, Ken Blake wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> [bowsers] Is the author misusing the trademark or is it familiar to
>>>>> you?
>>>>
>>>> Fuel bowsers are common in the British forces. Common name for
>>>> refuelling trucks. See also airports.
>>>
>>> That's also what the RCAF calls them.
>>
>> I'm sure this is a repeat from a few months back.
>> Someone made assumptions about "Bowser" being a very obscure term, and
>> the whole thing was fully explained back then.
>
> Yes, well remembered. Back in December you replied to my joke:
>
> <https://groups.google.com/g/alt.usage.english/c/7NyZSNPN4JA/m/Brr-RZzHBQAJ>
>
>> I wonder if there is any good reason for this stuff to be recycled?

I find this sort of word interesting. One goes through life meeting
words, unconsciously salting them away. Some may lie idle for decades,
but there they are, ready to be recognised when the occasion finally
presents itself, ready to pop out and enable a quip.

On 24/10/23 21:03, Hibou wrote:
> Le 24/10/2023 à 10:52, Hibou a écrit :
>> Le 23/10/2023 à 19:52, Sam Plusnet a écrit :
>>> On 23-Oct-23 18:25, lar3ryca wrote:
>>>> On 2023-10-23 10:40, Chris Elvidge wrote:
>>>>> On 23/10/2023 17:34, Ken Blake wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> [bowsers] Is the author misusing the trademark or is it familiar
>>>>>> to you?
>>>>>
>>>>> Fuel bowsers are common in the British forces. Common name for
>>>>> refuelling trucks. See also airports.
>>>>
>>>> That's also what the RCAF calls them.
>>>
>>> I'm sure this is a repeat from a few months back.
>>> Someone made assumptions about "Bowser" being a very obscure term,
>>> and the whole thing was fully explained back then.
>>
>> Yes, well remembered. Back in December you replied to my joke:
>>
>> <https://groups.google.com/g/alt.usage.english/c/7NyZSNPN4JA/m/Brr-RZzHBQAJ>
>>
>>
>>> I wonder if there is any good reason for this stuff to be recycled?
>
> I find this sort of word interesting. One goes through life meeting
> words, unconsciously salting them away. Some may lie idle for decades,
> but there they are, ready to be recognised when the occasion finally
> presents itself, ready to pop out and enable a quip.

Is this one an obscure term, though? In AusE "petrol bowser" is the most
common description for the device where you refuel your car. I have the
impression that it's almost as well known -- perhaps not to the same
degree -- in BrE. It's only in AmE that the word is not well-known.

--
Peter Moylan http://www.pmoylan.org
Newcastle, NSW

On 24-Oct-23 12:43, Peter Moylan wrote:
> On 24/10/23 21:03, Hibou wrote:
>> Le 24/10/2023 à 10:52, Hibou a écrit :
>>> Le 23/10/2023 à 19:52, Sam Plusnet a écrit :
>>>> On 23-Oct-23 18:25, lar3ryca wrote:
>>>>> On 2023-10-23 10:40, Chris Elvidge wrote:
>>>>>> On 23/10/2023 17:34, Ken Blake wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> [bowsers] Is the author misusing the trademark or is it familiar
>>>>>>> to you?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Fuel bowsers are common in the British forces. Common name for
>>>>>> refuelling trucks. See also airports.
>>>>>
>>>>> That's also what the RCAF calls them.
>>>>
>>>> I'm sure this is a repeat from a few months back.
>>>> Someone made assumptions about "Bowser" being a very obscure term,
>>>> and the whole thing was fully explained back then.
>>>
>>> Yes, well remembered. Back in December you replied to my joke:
>>>
>>> <https://groups.google.com/g/alt.usage.english/c/7NyZSNPN4JA/m/Brr-RZzHBQAJ>
>>>
>>>
>>>> I wonder if there is any good reason for this stuff to be recycled?
>>
>> I find this sort of word interesting. One goes through life meeting
>> words, unconsciously salting them away. Some may lie idle for decades,
>> but there they are, ready to be recognised when the occasion finally
>> presents itself, ready to pop out and enable a quip.
>
> Is this one an obscure term, though? In AusE "petrol bowser" is the most
> common description for the device where you refuel your car. I have the
> impression that it's almost as well known -- perhaps not to the same
> degree -- in BrE. It's only in AmE that the word is not well-known.

Do you mean that "petrol bowser" is an alternative term for the petrol
pump (or perhaps the forecourt where all the pumps are located)?

That isn't used in BrE. Here "bowser" is only used to refer to a tank on
wheels - either self-propelled, or towed behind another vehicle.

The large tanker lorries which replenish supplies at a "petrol station"
are not (as far as I know) ever called bowsers.

--
Sam Plusnet

In article <1mUZM.78465$9An3.18449@fx06.ams1>, Sam Plusnet <not@home.com>
wrote:
> On 24-Oct-23 12:43, Peter Moylan wrote:
> > On 24/10/23 21:03, Hibou wrote:
> >> Le 24/10/2023 à 10:52, Hibou a écrit :
> >>> Le 23/10/2023 à 19:52, Sam Plusnet a écrit :
> >>>> On 23-Oct-23 18:25, lar3ryca wrote:
> >>>>> On 2023-10-23 10:40, Chris Elvidge wrote:
> >>>>>> On 23/10/2023 17:34, Ken Blake wrote:
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> [bowsers] Is the author misusing the trademark or is it familiar
> >>>>>>> to you?
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Fuel bowsers are common in the British forces. Common name for
> >>>>>> refuelling trucks. See also airports.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> That's also what the RCAF calls them.
> >>>>
> >>>> I'm sure this is a repeat from a few months back. Someone made
> >>>> assumptions about "Bowser" being a very obscure term, and the whole
> >>>> thing was fully explained back then.
> >>>
> >>> Yes, well remembered. Back in December you replied to my joke:
> >>>
> >>> <https://groups.google.com/g/alt.usage.english/c/7NyZSNPN4JA/m/Brr-RZzHBQAJ>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> I wonder if there is any good reason for this stuff to be recycled?
> >>
> >> I find this sort of word interesting. One goes through life meeting
> >> words, unconsciously salting them away. Some may lie idle for decades,
> >> but there they are, ready to be recognised when the occasion finally
> >> presents itself, ready to pop out and enable a quip.
> >
> > Is this one an obscure term, though? In AusE "petrol bowser" is the
> > most common description for the device where you refuel your car. I
> > have the impression that it's almost as well known -- perhaps not to
> > the same degree -- in BrE. It's only in AmE that the word is not
> > well-known.

> Do you mean that "petrol bowser" is an alternative term for the petrol
> pump (or perhaps the forecourt where all the pumps are located)?

> That isn't used in BrE. Here "bowser" is only used to refer to a tank on
> wheels - either self-propelled, or towed behind another vehicle.

> The large tanker lorries which replenish supplies at a "petrol station"
> are not (as far as I know) ever called bowsers.

I have always assumed that you take the liquid directly from the bowser.

> --

--
from KT24 in Surrey, England - sent from my RISC OS 4té²
"I'd rather die of exhaustion than die of boredom" Thomas Carlyle

On 25/10/23 05:50, Sam Plusnet wrote:
> On 24-Oct-23 12:43, Peter Moylan wrote:

>> Is this one an obscure term, though? In AusE "petrol bowser" is the
>> most common description for the device where you refuel your car.
>> I have the impression that it's almost as well known -- perhaps not
>> to the same degree -- in BrE. It's only in AmE that the word is not
>> well-known.
>
> Do you mean that "petrol bowser" is an alternative term for the
> petrol pump (or perhaps the forecourt where all the pumps are
> located)?

"Petrol pump" would be understood in Australia, but it's not the usual
term here. "Bowser" is the primary term, not an alternative term.

And no, we don't use it to mean the forecourt. Only for the machine
that's standing up with its dick in its ear.

I don't think we ever use "bowser" for a tank or a tanker.

--
Peter Moylan http://www.pmoylan.org
Newcastle, NSW

On Tue, 24 Oct 2023 11:03:02 +0100, Hibou wrote:

>>>>> Fuel bowsers are common in the British forces. Common name for
>>>>> refuelling trucks. See also airports.
>>>>
>>>> That's also what the RCAF calls them.
>>>
>>> I'm sure this is a repeat from a few months back.
>>> Someone made assumptions about "Bowser" being a very obscure term, and
>>> the whole thing was fully explained back then.
>>
>> Yes, well remembered. Back in December you replied to my joke:
>>
>> <https://groups.google.com/g/alt.usage.english/c/7NyZSNPN4JA/m/Brr-RZzHBQAJ>
>>
>>> I wonder if there is any good reason for this stuff to be recycled?
>
> I find this sort of word interesting. One goes through life meeting
> words, unconsciously salting them away. Some may lie idle for decades,
> but there they are, ready to be recognised when the occasion finally
> presents itself, ready to pop out and enable a quip.

1. It's not a common (Am)English term as far as I can tell.
2. The thread discussing it in the past was titled
"Definition of racially coded"
3. And the "bowser" came up 53 times mostly in relation mostly to
a person named "Bruce" and only tangentially in a joke over here.
https://groups.google.com/g/alt.usage.english/c/7NyZSNPN4JA/m/vmaxBB64BQAJ

What's odd, to me, is Forbes used this almost unheard of trademark as if it
was common usage for an article that wasn't even about Australian or
British airfields, but Ukrainian/Russian airfields.

Seems to me if they insisted on using obscure trademarks for fuel trucks,
they could have spent the time to figure out what the Russians call it.

On Tue, 24 Oct 2023 08:16:42 +1300, Ross Clark wrote:

>> We've been here before. Familiar usage in BrE for fuel; and water
>> bowsers were a common sight during the drought of 1976 in the UK:
>>
>> <https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/20294585.readers-memories-long-hot-summer-1976/>
>
> All explained here:
>
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvanus_Bowser

That's interesting that it's an American invention, even as the article
goes on to say "In New Zealand and Australia it is still a generic term for
consumer fuel pumps, while in the United Kingdom it refers to wheeled water
tankers (either automotive or towed) used to supply fresh water to areas
where normal supplies have been interrupted."

What that appears to be indicating is that it's NOT an American term
any longer (if it ever was).

Hence, IMHO, it's ridiculous to use Australian slang to refer to Russian
objects when the article isn't aimed at Australian audiences in particular.

The terminology appears to be not bowsers, but "fuel tankers" as noted here
https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2022/12/14/7380747/

What's absurd, to me, is Forbes used this almost unheard of obscure
trademark slang as if it was common usage for an article written in English
that wasn't even about damage to either Australian or British airfields,
but to Ukrainian/Russian airfields.

Seems to me if they insisted on using outdated trademarks for fuel trucks,
they could have spent the time to figure out what the Russians call it.

Looking up what the locals call it, this just calls them "fuel trucks."
https://warontherocks.com/2021/11/feeding-the-bear-a-closer-look-at-russian-army-logistics/

So does this call it a "fuel truck" which makes more sense than a "bowser."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZIL-131

This intermingles "fuel tankers" and "fuel trucks" as their terminology.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/01/06/russia-disguising-fuel-trucks-piles-wood-avoid-ukrainian-bombs/

This mixes "fuel tankers" & "Russian fuel resupply vehicles" descriptors.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/vikrammittal/2022/12/11/ukrainian-military-is-targeting-russian-fuel-supply-lines-as-winter-approaches/

Here, instead of using absurd Australian vernacular, they call it a fuel
truck, so we don't seem to have any specific term the Russians use yet.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/05/explosions-russia-airbases-far-from-ukraine-frontline-bombers

It would be interesting to find what the Russians call it.

On 25/10/23 16:01, Ken Blake wrote:
> On Tue, 24 Oct 2023 11:03:02 +0100, Hibou wrote:
>
>>>>>> Fuel bowsers are common in the British forces. Common name
>>>>>> for refuelling trucks. See also airports.
>>>>>
>>>>> That's also what the RCAF calls them.
>>>>
>>>> I'm sure this is a repeat from a few months back. Someone made
>>>> assumptions about "Bowser" being a very obscure term, and the
>>>> whole thing was fully explained back then.
>>>
>>> Yes, well remembered. Back in December you replied to my joke:
>>>
>>> <https://groups.google.com/g/alt.usage.english/c/7NyZSNPN4JA/m/Brr-RZzHBQAJ>
>>>
>>>>
>>>
I wonder if there is any good reason for this stuff to be recycled?
>>
>> I find this sort of word interesting. One goes through life
>> meeting words, unconsciously salting them away. Some may lie idle
>> for decades, but there they are, ready to be recognised when the
>> occasion finally presents itself, ready to pop out and enable a
>> quip.
>
> 1. It's not a common (Am)English term as far as I can tell. 2. The
> thread discussing it in the past was titled "Definition of racially
> coded" 3. And the "bowser" came up 53 times mostly in relation mostly
> to a person named "Bruce" and only tangentially in a joke over here.
> https://groups.google.com/g/alt.usage.english/c/7NyZSNPN4JA/m/vmaxBB64BQAJ
>
> What's odd, to me, is Forbes used this almost unheard of trademark
> as if it was common usage for an article that wasn't even about
> Australian or British airfields, but Ukrainian/Russian airfields.
>
> Seems to me if they insisted on using obscure trademarks for fuel
> trucks, they could have spent the time to figure out what the
> Russians call it.

The journalist who wrote the article isn't Russian or Ukrainian, and
wasn't writing for Russian or Ukranian readers.

I've just gone back to the article to see who wrote it. He's an American
who was born in Texas and educated in South Carolina. He used the term
"bowser" in the British sense, not the Australian sense.

"Aviation bowser" could be a term of art at airports. Here's a US
company that uses the term:

https://westmor-ind.com/aviation/bowsers/

(A web search returned a few more hits.)

--
Peter Moylan http://www.pmoylan.org
Newcastle, NSW

Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> wrote:

> On 24-Oct-23 12:43, Peter Moylan wrote:
> > On 24/10/23 21:03, Hibou wrote:
> >> Le 24/10/2023 à 10:52, Hibou a écrit :
> >>> Le 23/10/2023 à 19:52, Sam Plusnet a écrit :
> >>>> On 23-Oct-23 18:25, lar3ryca wrote:
> >>>>> On 2023-10-23 10:40, Chris Elvidge wrote:
> >>>>>> On 23/10/2023 17:34, Ken Blake wrote:
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> [bowsers] Is the author misusing the trademark or is it familiar
> >>>>>>> to you?
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Fuel bowsers are common in the British forces. Common name for
> >>>>>> refuelling trucks. See also airports.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> That's also what the RCAF calls them.
> >>>>
> >>>> I'm sure this is a repeat from a few months back.
> >>>> Someone made assumptions about "Bowser" being a very obscure term,
> >>>> and the whole thing was fully explained back then.
> >>>
> >>> Yes, well remembered. Back in December you replied to my joke:
> >>>
> >>> <https://groups.google.com/g/alt.usage.english/c/7NyZSNPN4JA/m/Brr-RZzHBQA
J>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> I wonder if there is any good reason for this stuff to be recycled?
> >>
> >> I find this sort of word interesting. One goes through life meeting
> >> words, unconsciously salting them away. Some may lie idle for decades,
> >> but there they are, ready to be recognised when the occasion finally
> >> presents itself, ready to pop out and enable a quip.
> >
> > Is this one an obscure term, though? In AusE "petrol bowser" is the most
> > common description for the device where you refuel your car. I have the
> > impression that it's almost as well known -- perhaps not to the same
> > degree -- in BrE. It's only in AmE that the word is not well-known.
>
> Do you mean that "petrol bowser" is an alternative term for the petrol
> pump (or perhaps the forecourt where all the pumps are located)?
>
> That isn't used in BrE. Here "bowser" is only used to refer to a tank on
> wheels - either self-propelled, or towed behind another vehicle.

The wheels were essential, to the WWII RAF.
When planes were departing on long range missions
the fuel bowsers could be used to top up the tanks
with the engines already running,
while the planes were waiting for their turn to take off.

Jan

> The large tanker lorries which replenish supplies at a "petrol station"
> are not (as far as I know) ever called bowsers.

On Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at 1:31:32 AM UTC-4, Peter Moylan wrote:
> On 25/10/23 16:01, Ken Blake wrote:
> > On Tue, 24 Oct 2023 11:03:02 +0100, Hibou wrote:
> >
> >>>>>> Fuel bowsers are common in the British forces. Common name
> >>>>>> for refuelling trucks. See also airports.
> >>>>>
> >>>>> That's also what the RCAF calls them.
> >>>>
> >>>> I'm sure this is a repeat from a few months back. Someone made
> >>>> assumptions about "Bowser" being a very obscure term, and the
> >>>> whole thing was fully explained back then.
> >>>
> >>> Yes, well remembered. Back in December you replied to my joke:
> >>>
> >>> <https://groups.google.com/g/alt.usage.english/c/7NyZSNPN4JA/m/Brr-RZzHBQAJ>
> >>>
> >>>>
> >>>
> I wonder if there is any good reason for this stuff to be recycled?
> >>
> >> I find this sort of word interesting. One goes through life
> >> meeting words, unconsciously salting them away. Some may lie idle
> >> for decades, but there they are, ready to be recognised when the
> >> occasion finally presents itself, ready to pop out and enable a
> >> quip.
> >
> > 1. It's not a common (Am)English term as far as I can tell. 2. The
> > thread discussing it in the past was titled "Definition of racially
> > coded" 3. And the "bowser" came up 53 times mostly in relation mostly
> > to a person named "Bruce" and only tangentially in a joke over here.
> > https://groups.google.com/g/alt.usage.english/c/7NyZSNPN4JA/m/vmaxBB64BQAJ
> >
> > What's odd, to me, is Forbes used this almost unheard of trademark
> > as if it was common usage for an article that wasn't even about
> > Australian or British airfields, but Ukrainian/Russian airfields.
> >
> > Seems to me if they insisted on using obscure trademarks for fuel
> > trucks, they could have spent the time to figure out what the
> > Russians call it.
> The journalist who wrote the article isn't Russian or Ukrainian, and
> wasn't writing for Russian or Ukranian readers.
>
> I've just gone back to the article to see who wrote it. He's an American
> who was born in Texas and educated in South Carolina. He used the term
> "bowser" in the British sense, not the Australian sense.
>
> "Aviation bowser" could be a term of art at airports.

Even before the year 2001?

On Monday, October 23, 2023 at 3:02:46 PM UTC-4, Athel Cornish-Bowden wrote:
> On 2023-10-23 18:52:45 +0000, Sam Plusnet said:
> > On 23-Oct-23 18:25, lar3ryca wrote:
> >> On 2023-10-23 10:40, Chris Elvidge wrote:
> >>> On 23/10/2023 17:34, Ken Blake wrote:
> >>>> "A submunition warhead is perfect for striking large installations
> >>>> crowded with unprotected equipment. An airfield, for example, with its
> >>>> fragile airplanes, helicopters, fuel [bowsers] and support equipment.."
> >>>> https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/10/22/ukraines-american-made-m39-missiles-may-have-wrecked-21-russian-helicopters-in-a-single-operation/
> >>>>
> >>>> chiefly Australia
> >>>> : a pump usually at a service station for dispensing liquid fuels,
> >>>> especially gasoline
> >>>> https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bowsers
> >>>>
> >>>> It's interestingly odd that Forbes would use an obscure Australian
> >>>> trademark, which, as far as I can tell, is essentially local slang,
> >>>> for something that happened in Putin's War in Ukraine.
> >>>>
> >>>> Makes no sense to me for them to use Australian slang in such an article.
> >>>> But maybe the slang [bowsers] is more well known than I think it may be?
> >>>>
> >>>> [bowsers] Is the author misusing the trademark or is it familiar to you?
> >>>
> >>> Fuel bowsers are common in the British forces. Common name for
> >>> refuelling trucks. See also airports.
> >>
> >> That's also what the RCAF calls them.
> >>
> > I'm sure this is a repeat from a few months back.
> > Someone made assumptions about "Bowser" being a very obscure term, and
> > the whole thing was fully explained back then.
>
> I have to confess that the only Bowser I know of is Bruce.

But we'd all rather you talk about the best café in the EU for French home-brewed beer or for French brewed coffee.