Horsepower meets word power

The world of automobiles has borrowed metaphors from other spheres of life and returned the favour

February 25, 2015 06:22 pm | Updated February 26, 2015 04:04 pm IST

An Austin 7 is called the ‘Chummy’, because when seated in this small-sized car, even sworn enemies cannot stay ‘distant’ from each other. Photo: S. Ramesh Kurup

An Austin 7 is called the ‘Chummy’, because when seated in this small-sized car, even sworn enemies cannot stay ‘distant’ from each other. Photo: S. Ramesh Kurup

Descriptions of automobiles and their parts are sometimes marked by creative use of everyday language. ‘Poached egg’ is a delicious simile for the Morris Minor.

The diminutive Austin 7 is called the ‘Chummy’, because when seated in this car, even sworn enemies cannot stay ‘distant’ from each other. To convey the essence of their products, automobile manufacturers have drawn metaphors from other spheres of life:  Bullet, Explorer and Mustang are a few examples.

Creative word coinages are often the result of expediency. These words enhance ease of usage and also impart a sense of familiarity.

They have additional benefits. They lock languages together in a charming handshake. They borrow from local traditions, throwing light on cultures.

Jai Kumar, a collector of cars, mostly of the vintage and classic variety, points out that the Fiat Millecento’s grille is referred to as ‘Meesai Grille’ (moustache grille). “The various models of the Fiat 1100/103 sold in India during the 1950s were largely identified by the different shapes of their grilles. Mechanics restoring these cars have to pay attention to them. The popularity of ‘Meesai Grille’ shows they do,” he explains.

Mechanic-speak is replete with words that display such imagery. Kylas Swaminathan, secretary of Madras Heritage Motoring Club, marvels at ‘Kavadi Springs’, a term for any semi-elliptical leaf spring arrangement.

The arrangement roughly resembles a Kavadi — consisting of two metal or wooden bars that are bent and attached to a cross member — which is central to a popular form of religious worship in the Tamil world.

Around the world, the lingo of automobile mechanics consists of such catchy and funny shorthands. In certain parts of the English-speaking world, ‘distributor’ — which passes electric current from the ignition coil to the spark plugs — is called ‘dizzy’.

Subhash Chandra Bose, biker and a consultant for a motorcycle manufacturing company, believes creative and catchy monikers are the best thing that could happen to any automobile brand. He cites the example of ‘Kutti Yanai’ (Little Elephant), a nickname for the mini-truck Tata Ace.

“This nickname is entrenched in the minds of people in this part of the world. It beautifully encapsulates the function, size and sturdiness of a mini-truck,” says Bose.  

It’s two-way traffic.

Automobiles have enriched language, offering terms that help us understand life and people.

Srinivas Bharathwaj, a software professional and member of Madras Bulls, says “Self-starter is not working!” is a catchphrase for bewildering incomprehension and lack of self-motivation.

He explains, “This phrase is used when somebody displays a pathetic incomprehension of something that is obvious to everybody else. It’s also used when someone lacks initiative.”

Jai Kumar has heard ‘tappet’ being used as a descriptor for someone ‘out of sync’ with reality. Tappet belongs to the realm of internal combustion engines and a loose tappet spells disaster for an engine. Someone is being a ‘tappet’ when he’s acting stupidly.

Agni Sharman, who runs a cab service and interacts with dozens of drivers every day, finds himself using auto terms to describe people.

“To call someone a ‘Slow Pick-up’ is to say he’s slow on the uptake. Someone is said to be ‘Tank Full’ when he is so lost in his own world that he has no space for others,” says Agni.

Jai Kumar believes ‘re-boring’ is beginning to making strides outside the world of automobiles. “The idea of ‘re-boring’ is sometimes extended, usually  by automobile enthusiasts,  to express efforts to overhaul a system, reform oneself or make a fresh start in life.”

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