Words used mainly in Canadian English

Canadian English has words or expressions not found, or not widely used, in other variants of English. Additionally, like other dialects of English that exist in proximity to francophones, French loanwords have entered Canadian English.

ABM, bank machine: synonymous with ATM (which is also used).

bachelor: bachelor apartment ("They have a bachelor for rent").

chesterfield: originally British and internationally used (as in classic furnishing terminology) to refer to a sofa whose arms are the same height as the back, it is a common term for any couch or sofa in Canada (and, to some extent, Northern California).The more international terms sofa and couch are also used; among younger generations in the western and central regions, chesterfield is largely in decline.

double-double: a cup of coffee with two creams and two sugars. And by the same token, triple-triple.

eavestroughs: rain gutters. Also used, especially in the past, in the Northern and Western U.S.; the first recorded usage is in Herman Melville's Moby-

Dick: "The tails tapering down that way, serve to carry off the water, d'ye see. Same with cocked hats; the cocks form gable-end eave-troughs, Flask."

eh: a spoken interjection to ascertain the comprehension, continued interest, agreement, etc., of the person or persons addressed ("That was a good game last night, eh?"). May also be used instead of "huh?" or "what?" meaning "please repeat or say again." Frequently mis-represented by Americans as A, or hey.

fire hall: fire station, firehouse.

height of land: a drainage divide. Originally American.

Hoser: An uncouth, beer drinking man. Used extensively in Bob and Doug Mackenzie skits.

humidex: measurement used by meteorologists to reflect the combined effect of heat and humidity.

hydro: a common synonym for electrical service. Many Canadian provincial electric companies generate power from hydroelectricity, and incorporate the term "Hydro" in their names: Toronto Hydro, Hydro Ottawa, etc. Usage: "Manitoba Hydro... It's not just a Power Company anymore."; "How long did you work for Hydro?" "When's Hydro gonna get the lines back up."; "The hydro bill is due on the fifteenth."; "I didn't pay my hydro bill so they shut off my lights." Hence hydrofield, a line of electricity transmission towers, usually in groups cutting across a city, and hydro lines/poles, electrical transmission lines/poles.

loonie: Canadian one dollar coin. Derived from the use of the loon on the reverse.

parkade: a parking garage, especially in the West.

pencil crayon: coloured pencil origin: bilingual package label Pencil (English) Crayon (French word for pencil).

pogie: term referring to employment insurance.

runners: running shoes, sneakers, especially in Central Canada. Also used somewhat in Australian English.

toonie: Canadian two dollar coin. Modelled after loonie. Also spelled tooney, twooney, twoonie, twonie, or twoney.

tuque: a knitted winter hat, often with a pompon on the crown. Sometimes spelled toque.

washroom: the general term for what is normally named public toilet or lavatory in Britain. In the U.S. (where it originated) mostly replaced by restroom in the 20th century. Generally used only as a technical or commercial term outside of Canada. The word bathroom is also used.

Tin (as in tin of tuna): for can, especially among older speakers. Among younger speakers, can is more common, with tin referring to a can which is wider than it is tall.

Cutlery: for silverware or flatware.

Serviette: for a table napkin, though this is fast being changed to the latter.

Tap: conspicuously more common than faucet in everyday usage.

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Barnabus (2007-07-01)
hydrantttt

Barnabus (2007-07-01)
Here in S.D. Hydro means water! also used to mean fire hydrant - hook up to the hydrand to get some hydro!

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