Referring to the Concise Oxford English Dictionary, as one does in these situations..... Jeep, and Hoover are both (listed as) proper nouns, it mentions the company in the case of Hoover, but simply says "four wheel drive vehicle" and "US origin" for the Jeep. Fridge is not listed as a proper noun, and simply as a colloquialism, for cooling room or cupboard. I note that I spelled refrigerator incorrectly in my earlier email. see also http://techref.massmind.org/cgi-bin/wnsearch.exe?q=fridge http://techref.massmind.org/cgi-bin/wnsearch.exe?q=hoover http://techref.massmind.org/cgi-bin/wnsearch.exe?q=jeep Regards, Kevin From: "Bob Ammerman" > Fridge is short for Fridgadaire - another brand name that has been 'stolen' > by popular usage. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Kevin Blain" > > > Isn't Hoover a trade name of Hoover, and Jeep a trade name of Jeep? > > > > Vacuum cleaner and 4x4 multipurpose vehicle might be better generic terms > > > > fridge is AFAIK simply an abbreviation for refridgerator, which is a > cooling > > device, and also the nick name for an ex- NY Giants football player > > > > Regards, Kevin > > > > > > > Formica is IIRC a trade name for the phenolic-based surfacing sheet, > > > I presume melamine is a generic term, and perhaps mica is too, like > > > fridge or hoover or jeep > > > > -- > > http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! > > email listserv@mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body > > > > > > -- > http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! > email listserv@mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body > > > -- http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us! email listserv@mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body