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Forums => English & Linguistics => Topic started by: rivka on May 22, 2019, 03:31:48 PM

Title: What do you call this?
Post by: rivka on May 22, 2019, 03:31:48 PM

 (http://www.everythingbutwine.com/thumb.php?width=350&height=350&file=images/2093t.jpg)

Title: Re: What do you call this?
Post by: Jonathon on May 22, 2019, 07:22:49 PM

I recognize that it's got both a bottle opener and a can opener, but to me a can opener is the thing that cuts the lid off of a can rather than just punching a hole in it. I'm not sure I've ever heard that sort of thing called a churchkey.

Title: Re: What do you call this?
Post by: Tante Shvester on May 23, 2019, 03:34:18 AM

It is a church key.  It is also a can opener (pointy end) and a bottle opener (blunt end).  It has more than one name.

Title: Re: What do you call this?
Post by: rivka on May 23, 2019, 07:45:25 AM

Quote from: Jonathon on May 22, 2019, 07:22:49 PM

I'm not sure I've ever heard that sort of thing called a churchkey.

While to me, that is absolutely its name, and any other name for it describes only part of its functionality.

My daughter grew up hearing me (and my mom) call it a churchkey, and sent me the funniest little voice message via WhatsApp yesterday, decrying the ignorance of the others in her dorm and thanking me for educating her properly. I did a survey of my office, and among the native-American speakers, one other firmly agreed with churchkey and the other two had never heard the term.

I'm wondering now if it's a regional thing, a generational thing (with some trickle-down), or what.

Title: Re: What do you call this?
Post by: Ela on May 25, 2019, 09:42:25 PM

It's a bottle opener and a can opener, but I usually call it a churchkey.

Wonder if it's a NY (and extended NY area) thing to call it that?

Title: Re: What do you call this?
Post by: Tante Shvester on May 26, 2019, 12:57:24 PM

My in-laws, who lived in Atlanta, called it a church key.

Title: Re: What do you call this?
Post by: rivka on May 27, 2019, 10:14:38 PM

My mom grew up in the Chicago area, and definitely grew up calling it a churchkey. Neither of her parents were East Coasters either.

Title: Re: What do you call this?
Post by: Ela on May 28, 2019, 08:30:39 AM

There seem to be a few theories on the origin of the term.

Title: Re: What do you call this?
Post by: Noemon on June 19, 2019, 02:18:45 PM

I've been aware of "churchkey" as a term for that all my life (or at least as far back as I can remember), but it has always seemed like a weird name to me. It wasn't what leapt to mind when I saw the original post (bottle opener was what did).

Title: Re: What do you call this?
Post by: rivka on June 19, 2019, 03:48:28 PM

Quote from: Noemon on June 19, 2019, 02:18:45 PM

but it has always seemed like a weird name to me.

Well, it is. But it is also the right name. ;)

Title: Re: What do you call this?
Post by: Noemon on June 19, 2019, 09:32:21 PM

 :D