What is the most common colloquial name for the lifebuoy?
What's the first word that comes to your mind when you see this? Also, please mention if British, US or another variant.
As someone who didn't grow up in an English-speaking country, I really have no idea what to call these, and Wikipedia lists altogether too many names for them.
single-word-requests
edited Feb 25 '15 at 14:55
JSBձոգչ
48.1k13141199
asked Feb 25 '15 at 14:30
RomanStRomanSt
4532418
|
show 6 more comments
What's the first word that comes to your mind when you see this? Also, please mention if British, US or another variant.
As someone who didn't grow up in an English-speaking country, I really have no idea what to call these, and Wikipedia lists altogether too many names for them.
single-word-requests
edited Feb 25 '15 at 14:55
JSBձոգչ
48.1k13141199
asked Feb 25 '15 at 14:30
RomanStRomanSt
4532418
6
"life preserver". NJ, USA
– nanny
Feb 25 '15 at 14:34
2
The website of the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institute) returned results for lifebuoy (not hyphenated); life ring, and life belt. It did not return any results for life preserver, which I think should be considered American. if I'm ever drowning I shall not be the least concerned about what anyone calls it, so long as they throw me one!
– WS2
Feb 25 '15 at 14:41
4
"lifesaver". MD, USA. Almost always heard with "throw", as in "She threw him a lifesaver". Also, hence the name of the candy. (To me, "life preserver" = "life jacket" = a thing you put on as a precaution, not something that generally gets tossed to you after the fact.)
– Hellion
Feb 25 '15 at 14:43
1
In Britain a life-saver is a term given to a person who saves lives. see this: rnli.org/NewsCentre/Pages/…
– WS2
Feb 25 '15 at 14:46
3
@WS2 nice try, but LifeSavers candy was invented in 1912 in Ohio. Your Polo Mints are but a pale imitation. ;-p
– Hellion
Feb 25 '15 at 17:01
|
show 6 more comments
What's the first word that comes to your mind when you see this? Also, please mention if British, US or another variant.
As someone who didn't grow up in an English-speaking country, I really have no idea what to call these, and Wikipedia lists altogether too many names for them.
single-word-requests
edited Feb 25 '15 at 14:55
JSBձոգչ
48.1k13141199
asked Feb 25 '15 at 14:30
RomanStRomanSt
4532418
What's the first word that comes to your mind when you see this? Also, please mention if British, US or another variant.
As someone who didn't grow up in an English-speaking country, I really have no idea what to call these, and Wikipedia lists altogether too many names for them.
single-word-requests
single-word-requests
edited Feb 25 '15 at 14:55
JSBձոգչ
48.1k13141199
asked Feb 25 '15 at 14:30
RomanStRomanSt
4532418
edited Feb 25 '15 at 14:55
JSBձոգչ
48.1k13141199
asked Feb 25 '15 at 14:30
RomanStRomanSt
4532418
edited Feb 25 '15 at 14:55
JSBձոգչ
48.1k13141199
edited Feb 25 '15 at 14:55
JSBձոգչ
48.1k13141199
edited Feb 25 '15 at 14:55
JSBձոգչ
48.1k13141199
48.1k13141199
asked Feb 25 '15 at 14:30
RomanStRomanSt
4532418
asked Feb 25 '15 at 14:30
RomanStRomanSt
4532418
asked Feb 25 '15 at 14:30
RomanStRomanSt
4532418
4532418
6
"life preserver". NJ, USA
– nanny
Feb 25 '15 at 14:34
2
The website of the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institute) returned results for lifebuoy (not hyphenated); life ring, and life belt. It did not return any results for life preserver, which I think should be considered American. if I'm ever drowning I shall not be the least concerned about what anyone calls it, so long as they throw me one!
– WS2
Feb 25 '15 at 14:41
4
"lifesaver". MD, USA. Almost always heard with "throw", as in "She threw him a lifesaver". Also, hence the name of the candy. (To me, "life preserver" = "life jacket" = a thing you put on as a precaution, not something that generally gets tossed to you after the fact.)
– Hellion
Feb 25 '15 at 14:43
1
In Britain a life-saver is a term given to a person who saves lives. see this: rnli.org/NewsCentre/Pages/…
– WS2
Feb 25 '15 at 14:46
3
@WS2 nice try, but LifeSavers candy was invented in 1912 in Ohio. Your Polo Mints are but a pale imitation. ;-p
– Hellion
Feb 25 '15 at 17:01
|
show 6 more comments
6
"life preserver". NJ, USA
– nanny
Feb 25 '15 at 14:34
2
The website of the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institute) returned results for lifebuoy (not hyphenated); life ring, and life belt. It did not return any results for life preserver, which I think should be considered American. if I'm ever drowning I shall not be the least concerned about what anyone calls it, so long as they throw me one!
– WS2
Feb 25 '15 at 14:41
4
"lifesaver". MD, USA. Almost always heard with "throw", as in "She threw him a lifesaver". Also, hence the name of the candy. (To me, "life preserver" = "life jacket" = a thing you put on as a precaution, not something that generally gets tossed to you after the fact.)
– Hellion
Feb 25 '15 at 14:43
1
In Britain a life-saver is a term given to a person who saves lives. see this: rnli.org/NewsCentre/Pages/…
– WS2
Feb 25 '15 at 14:46
3
@WS2 nice try, but LifeSavers candy was invented in 1912 in Ohio. Your Polo Mints are but a pale imitation. ;-p
– Hellion
Feb 25 '15 at 17:01
6
6
"life preserver". NJ, USA
– nanny
Feb 25 '15 at 14:34
"life preserver". NJ, USA
– nanny
Feb 25 '15 at 14:34
2
2
The website of the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institute) returned results for lifebuoy (not hyphenated); life ring, and life belt. It did not return any results for life preserver, which I think should be considered American. if I'm ever drowning I shall not be the least concerned about what anyone calls it, so long as they throw me one!
– WS2
Feb 25 '15 at 14:41
The website of the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institute) returned results for lifebuoy (not hyphenated); life ring, and life belt. It did not return any results for life preserver, which I think should be considered American. if I'm ever drowning I shall not be the least concerned about what anyone calls it, so long as they throw me one!
– WS2
Feb 25 '15 at 14:41
4
4
"lifesaver". MD, USA. Almost always heard with "throw", as in "She threw him a lifesaver". Also, hence the name of the candy. (To me, "life preserver" = "life jacket" = a thing you put on as a precaution, not something that generally gets tossed to you after the fact.)
– Hellion
Feb 25 '15 at 14:43
"lifesaver". MD, USA. Almost always heard with "throw", as in "She threw him a lifesaver". Also, hence the name of the candy. (To me, "life preserver" = "life jacket" = a thing you put on as a precaution, not something that generally gets tossed to you after the fact.)
– Hellion
Feb 25 '15 at 14:43
1
1
In Britain a life-saver is a term given to a person who saves lives. see this: rnli.org/NewsCentre/Pages/…
– WS2
Feb 25 '15 at 14:46
In Britain a life-saver is a term given to a person who saves lives. see this: rnli.org/NewsCentre/Pages/…
– WS2
Feb 25 '15 at 14:46
3
3
@WS2 nice try, but LifeSavers candy was invented in 1912 in Ohio. Your Polo Mints are but a pale imitation. ;-p
– Hellion
Feb 25 '15 at 17:01
@WS2 nice try, but LifeSavers candy was invented in 1912 in Ohio. Your Polo Mints are but a pale imitation. ;-p
– Hellion
Feb 25 '15 at 17:01
|
show 6 more comments
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
A lifebelt is a common way to call it:
- A life preserver worn like a belt.
also:
- A lifebuoy, ring buoy, lifering, lifesaver, life donut, life preserver or lifebelt, also known as a "kisby ring" or "perry buoy", is a life saving buoy designed to be thrown to a person in the water, to provide buoyancy and prevent drowning. Some modern lifebuoys are fitted with one or more seawater-activated lights, to aid rescue at night.
Lifebelt is more common in BrE while life preserver in more common in AmE (see Ngram).
Ngram BrE NgramAmE
add a comment |
It is a bit complicated, and no doubt varies from region to region. In the US, I'd expect it to most often be called a lifebuoy, though life ring might also be used, as well as life preserver.
But life preserver is also commonly used to refer to a life jacket (see image below) and if you're wearing a life jacket you don't have such an urgent need for a lifebuoy.
answered Jan 17 '17 at 0:34
Hot LicksHot Licks
19k23677
2
It must be regional (within the US); I've never in my life heard lifebuoy. I'm frankly not even 100% sure how to say it—boo-ee? Bwoy? Boy? I've only heard life preserver, and would not use that term for a life jacket. Fwiw, I'm from Michigan (also lived in LA for a decade, and now live in a plains state, but probably have mostly used these terms in Michigan).
– 1006a
Jan 17 '17 at 1:46
@1006a - "Lifebuoy" is quite simply "life" followed by "buoy". (I've lived in Kentucky, Ohio, New Jersey, and Minnesota. Quite a lot of sailing for about 15 years in Minnesota.)
– Hot Licks
Jan 17 '17 at 1:53
1
@1006a There is a transatlantic difference in the pronunciation of the word 'buoy'. Over here we pronounce it as 'boy' (it is related to the word 'buoyant') but you guys seem to prefer 'booy'. By the way there has been from 1895 a carbolic soap called lifebuoy originally made in the UK. I think more people in the UK (at least of a certain age) would think of the soap than the lifebelt when faced with the word 'lifebuoy' which we seem to have replaced by 'lifebelt'.
– BoldBen
Jan 17 '17 at 7:54
Thanks, @BoldBen, I think that's probably the source of my confusion. I know I looked up the pronunciation at one point years ago, but there were enough variants listed that it didn't help much, and I haven't used/heard it in conversation consistently enough to have a natural default.
– 1006a
Jan 17 '17 at 21:43
add a comment |
I nominate lifesaver. Not only is this object the precise one described under the fourth definition in the American Heritage Dictionary 5th edition (©2016), but it is commonly enough known that there is a popular brand name of hardcandies named after it, so named because of the thick ring shape. You can see an advertisement for Pep-o-Mint Lifesavers on page 510 of Life Magazine, Volume 74, Issue 1925, which was published in 1919:
Aside from showing how the shape of the candy resembles its namesake, I doubt a word can be much more colloquial or well known than a century old candy that remains popular to this day, although these days lifesavers are usually fruit flavored rather than minty.
answered Jan 6 at 6:23
TonepoetTonepoet
3,50011527
add a comment |
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3 Answers
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
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active
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active
oldest
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A lifebelt is a common way to call it:
- A life preserver worn like a belt.
also:
- A lifebuoy, ring buoy, lifering, lifesaver, life donut, life preserver or lifebelt, also known as a "kisby ring" or "perry buoy", is a life saving buoy designed to be thrown to a person in the water, to provide buoyancy and prevent drowning. Some modern lifebuoys are fitted with one or more seawater-activated lights, to aid rescue at night.
Lifebelt is more common in BrE while life preserver in more common in AmE (see Ngram).
Ngram BrE NgramAmE
add a comment |
A lifebelt is a common way to call it:
- A life preserver worn like a belt.
also:
- A lifebuoy, ring buoy, lifering, lifesaver, life donut, life preserver or lifebelt, also known as a "kisby ring" or "perry buoy", is a life saving buoy designed to be thrown to a person in the water, to provide buoyancy and prevent drowning. Some modern lifebuoys are fitted with one or more seawater-activated lights, to aid rescue at night.
Lifebelt is more common in BrE while life preserver in more common in AmE (see Ngram).
Ngram BrE NgramAmE
add a comment |
A lifebelt is a common way to call it:
- A life preserver worn like a belt.
also:
- A lifebuoy, ring buoy, lifering, lifesaver, life donut, life preserver or lifebelt, also known as a "kisby ring" or "perry buoy", is a life saving buoy designed to be thrown to a person in the water, to provide buoyancy and prevent drowning. Some modern lifebuoys are fitted with one or more seawater-activated lights, to aid rescue at night.
Lifebelt is more common in BrE while life preserver in more common in AmE (see Ngram).
Ngram BrE NgramAmE
A lifebelt is a common way to call it:
- A life preserver worn like a belt.
also:
- A lifebuoy, ring buoy, lifering, lifesaver, life donut, life preserver or lifebelt, also known as a "kisby ring" or "perry buoy", is a life saving buoy designed to be thrown to a person in the water, to provide buoyancy and prevent drowning. Some modern lifebuoys are fitted with one or more seawater-activated lights, to aid rescue at night.
Lifebelt is more common in BrE while life preserver in more common in AmE (see Ngram).
Ngram BrE NgramAmE
edited Feb 25 '15 at 14:42
answered Feb 25 '15 at 14:33
user66974
add a comment |
add a comment |
It is a bit complicated, and no doubt varies from region to region. In the US, I'd expect it to most often be called a lifebuoy, though life ring might also be used, as well as life preserver.
But life preserver is also commonly used to refer to a life jacket (see image below) and if you're wearing a life jacket you don't have such an urgent need for a lifebuoy.
answered Jan 17 '17 at 0:34
Hot LicksHot Licks
19k23677
2
It must be regional (within the US); I've never in my life heard lifebuoy. I'm frankly not even 100% sure how to say it—boo-ee? Bwoy? Boy? I've only heard life preserver, and would not use that term for a life jacket. Fwiw, I'm from Michigan (also lived in LA for a decade, and now live in a plains state, but probably have mostly used these terms in Michigan).
– 1006a
Jan 17 '17 at 1:46
@1006a - "Lifebuoy" is quite simply "life" followed by "buoy". (I've lived in Kentucky, Ohio, New Jersey, and Minnesota. Quite a lot of sailing for about 15 years in Minnesota.)
– Hot Licks
Jan 17 '17 at 1:53
1
@1006a There is a transatlantic difference in the pronunciation of the word 'buoy'. Over here we pronounce it as 'boy' (it is related to the word 'buoyant') but you guys seem to prefer 'booy'. By the way there has been from 1895 a carbolic soap called lifebuoy originally made in the UK. I think more people in the UK (at least of a certain age) would think of the soap than the lifebelt when faced with the word 'lifebuoy' which we seem to have replaced by 'lifebelt'.
– BoldBen
Jan 17 '17 at 7:54
Thanks, @BoldBen, I think that's probably the source of my confusion. I know I looked up the pronunciation at one point years ago, but there were enough variants listed that it didn't help much, and I haven't used/heard it in conversation consistently enough to have a natural default.
– 1006a
Jan 17 '17 at 21:43
add a comment |
It is a bit complicated, and no doubt varies from region to region. In the US, I'd expect it to most often be called a lifebuoy, though life ring might also be used, as well as life preserver.
But life preserver is also commonly used to refer to a life jacket (see image below) and if you're wearing a life jacket you don't have such an urgent need for a lifebuoy.
answered Jan 17 '17 at 0:34
Hot LicksHot Licks
19k23677
2
It must be regional (within the US); I've never in my life heard lifebuoy. I'm frankly not even 100% sure how to say it—boo-ee? Bwoy? Boy? I've only heard life preserver, and would not use that term for a life jacket. Fwiw, I'm from Michigan (also lived in LA for a decade, and now live in a plains state, but probably have mostly used these terms in Michigan).
– 1006a
Jan 17 '17 at 1:46
@1006a - "Lifebuoy" is quite simply "life" followed by "buoy". (I've lived in Kentucky, Ohio, New Jersey, and Minnesota. Quite a lot of sailing for about 15 years in Minnesota.)
– Hot Licks
Jan 17 '17 at 1:53
1
@1006a There is a transatlantic difference in the pronunciation of the word 'buoy'. Over here we pronounce it as 'boy' (it is related to the word 'buoyant') but you guys seem to prefer 'booy'. By the way there has been from 1895 a carbolic soap called lifebuoy originally made in the UK. I think more people in the UK (at least of a certain age) would think of the soap than the lifebelt when faced with the word 'lifebuoy' which we seem to have replaced by 'lifebelt'.
– BoldBen
Jan 17 '17 at 7:54
Thanks, @BoldBen, I think that's probably the source of my confusion. I know I looked up the pronunciation at one point years ago, but there were enough variants listed that it didn't help much, and I haven't used/heard it in conversation consistently enough to have a natural default.
– 1006a
Jan 17 '17 at 21:43
add a comment |
It is a bit complicated, and no doubt varies from region to region. In the US, I'd expect it to most often be called a lifebuoy, though life ring might also be used, as well as life preserver.
But life preserver is also commonly used to refer to a life jacket (see image below) and if you're wearing a life jacket you don't have such an urgent need for a lifebuoy.
answered Jan 17 '17 at 0:34
Hot LicksHot Licks
19k23677
It is a bit complicated, and no doubt varies from region to region. In the US, I'd expect it to most often be called a lifebuoy, though life ring might also be used, as well as life preserver.
But life preserver is also commonly used to refer to a life jacket (see image below) and if you're wearing a life jacket you don't have such an urgent need for a lifebuoy.
answered Jan 17 '17 at 0:34
Hot LicksHot Licks
19k23677
answered Jan 17 '17 at 0:34
Hot LicksHot Licks
19k23677
answered Jan 17 '17 at 0:34
Hot LicksHot Licks
19k23677
answered Jan 17 '17 at 0:34
Hot LicksHot Licks
19k23677
19k23677
2
It must be regional (within the US); I've never in my life heard lifebuoy. I'm frankly not even 100% sure how to say it—boo-ee? Bwoy? Boy? I've only heard life preserver, and would not use that term for a life jacket. Fwiw, I'm from Michigan (also lived in LA for a decade, and now live in a plains state, but probably have mostly used these terms in Michigan).
– 1006a
Jan 17 '17 at 1:46
@1006a - "Lifebuoy" is quite simply "life" followed by "buoy". (I've lived in Kentucky, Ohio, New Jersey, and Minnesota. Quite a lot of sailing for about 15 years in Minnesota.)
– Hot Licks
Jan 17 '17 at 1:53
1
@1006a There is a transatlantic difference in the pronunciation of the word 'buoy'. Over here we pronounce it as 'boy' (it is related to the word 'buoyant') but you guys seem to prefer 'booy'. By the way there has been from 1895 a carbolic soap called lifebuoy originally made in the UK. I think more people in the UK (at least of a certain age) would think of the soap than the lifebelt when faced with the word 'lifebuoy' which we seem to have replaced by 'lifebelt'.
– BoldBen
Jan 17 '17 at 7:54
Thanks, @BoldBen, I think that's probably the source of my confusion. I know I looked up the pronunciation at one point years ago, but there were enough variants listed that it didn't help much, and I haven't used/heard it in conversation consistently enough to have a natural default.
– 1006a
Jan 17 '17 at 21:43
add a comment |
2
It must be regional (within the US); I've never in my life heard lifebuoy. I'm frankly not even 100% sure how to say it—boo-ee? Bwoy? Boy? I've only heard life preserver, and would not use that term for a life jacket. Fwiw, I'm from Michigan (also lived in LA for a decade, and now live in a plains state, but probably have mostly used these terms in Michigan).
– 1006a
Jan 17 '17 at 1:46
@1006a - "Lifebuoy" is quite simply "life" followed by "buoy". (I've lived in Kentucky, Ohio, New Jersey, and Minnesota. Quite a lot of sailing for about 15 years in Minnesota.)
– Hot Licks
Jan 17 '17 at 1:53
1
@1006a There is a transatlantic difference in the pronunciation of the word 'buoy'. Over here we pronounce it as 'boy' (it is related to the word 'buoyant') but you guys seem to prefer 'booy'. By the way there has been from 1895 a carbolic soap called lifebuoy originally made in the UK. I think more people in the UK (at least of a certain age) would think of the soap than the lifebelt when faced with the word 'lifebuoy' which we seem to have replaced by 'lifebelt'.
– BoldBen
Jan 17 '17 at 7:54
Thanks, @BoldBen, I think that's probably the source of my confusion. I know I looked up the pronunciation at one point years ago, but there were enough variants listed that it didn't help much, and I haven't used/heard it in conversation consistently enough to have a natural default.
– 1006a
Jan 17 '17 at 21:43
2
2
It must be regional (within the US); I've never in my life heard lifebuoy. I'm frankly not even 100% sure how to say it—boo-ee? Bwoy? Boy? I've only heard life preserver, and would not use that term for a life jacket. Fwiw, I'm from Michigan (also lived in LA for a decade, and now live in a plains state, but probably have mostly used these terms in Michigan).
– 1006a
Jan 17 '17 at 1:46
It must be regional (within the US); I've never in my life heard lifebuoy. I'm frankly not even 100% sure how to say it—boo-ee? Bwoy? Boy? I've only heard life preserver, and would not use that term for a life jacket. Fwiw, I'm from Michigan (also lived in LA for a decade, and now live in a plains state, but probably have mostly used these terms in Michigan).
– 1006a
Jan 17 '17 at 1:46
@1006a - "Lifebuoy" is quite simply "life" followed by "buoy". (I've lived in Kentucky, Ohio, New Jersey, and Minnesota. Quite a lot of sailing for about 15 years in Minnesota.)
– Hot Licks
Jan 17 '17 at 1:53
@1006a - "Lifebuoy" is quite simply "life" followed by "buoy". (I've lived in Kentucky, Ohio, New Jersey, and Minnesota. Quite a lot of sailing for about 15 years in Minnesota.)
– Hot Licks
Jan 17 '17 at 1:53
1
1
@1006a There is a transatlantic difference in the pronunciation of the word 'buoy'. Over here we pronounce it as 'boy' (it is related to the word 'buoyant') but you guys seem to prefer 'booy'. By the way there has been from 1895 a carbolic soap called lifebuoy originally made in the UK. I think more people in the UK (at least of a certain age) would think of the soap than the lifebelt when faced with the word 'lifebuoy' which we seem to have replaced by 'lifebelt'.
– BoldBen
Jan 17 '17 at 7:54
@1006a There is a transatlantic difference in the pronunciation of the word 'buoy'. Over here we pronounce it as 'boy' (it is related to the word 'buoyant') but you guys seem to prefer 'booy'. By the way there has been from 1895 a carbolic soap called lifebuoy originally made in the UK. I think more people in the UK (at least of a certain age) would think of the soap than the lifebelt when faced with the word 'lifebuoy' which we seem to have replaced by 'lifebelt'.
– BoldBen
Jan 17 '17 at 7:54
Thanks, @BoldBen, I think that's probably the source of my confusion. I know I looked up the pronunciation at one point years ago, but there were enough variants listed that it didn't help much, and I haven't used/heard it in conversation consistently enough to have a natural default.
– 1006a
Jan 17 '17 at 21:43
Thanks, @BoldBen, I think that's probably the source of my confusion. I know I looked up the pronunciation at one point years ago, but there were enough variants listed that it didn't help much, and I haven't used/heard it in conversation consistently enough to have a natural default.
– 1006a
Jan 17 '17 at 21:43
add a comment |
I nominate lifesaver. Not only is this object the precise one described under the fourth definition in the American Heritage Dictionary 5th edition (©2016), but it is commonly enough known that there is a popular brand name of hardcandies named after it, so named because of the thick ring shape. You can see an advertisement for Pep-o-Mint Lifesavers on page 510 of Life Magazine, Volume 74, Issue 1925, which was published in 1919:
Aside from showing how the shape of the candy resembles its namesake, I doubt a word can be much more colloquial or well known than a century old candy that remains popular to this day, although these days lifesavers are usually fruit flavored rather than minty.
answered Jan 6 at 6:23
TonepoetTonepoet
3,50011527
add a comment |
I nominate lifesaver. Not only is this object the precise one described under the fourth definition in the American Heritage Dictionary 5th edition (©2016), but it is commonly enough known that there is a popular brand name of hardcandies named after it, so named because of the thick ring shape. You can see an advertisement for Pep-o-Mint Lifesavers on page 510 of Life Magazine, Volume 74, Issue 1925, which was published in 1919:
Aside from showing how the shape of the candy resembles its namesake, I doubt a word can be much more colloquial or well known than a century old candy that remains popular to this day, although these days lifesavers are usually fruit flavored rather than minty.
answered Jan 6 at 6:23
TonepoetTonepoet
3,50011527
add a comment |
I nominate lifesaver. Not only is this object the precise one described under the fourth definition in the American Heritage Dictionary 5th edition (©2016), but it is commonly enough known that there is a popular brand name of hardcandies named after it, so named because of the thick ring shape. You can see an advertisement for Pep-o-Mint Lifesavers on page 510 of Life Magazine, Volume 74, Issue 1925, which was published in 1919:
Aside from showing how the shape of the candy resembles its namesake, I doubt a word can be much more colloquial or well known than a century old candy that remains popular to this day, although these days lifesavers are usually fruit flavored rather than minty.
answered Jan 6 at 6:23
TonepoetTonepoet
3,50011527
I nominate lifesaver. Not only is this object the precise one described under the fourth definition in the American Heritage Dictionary 5th edition (©2016), but it is commonly enough known that there is a popular brand name of hardcandies named after it, so named because of the thick ring shape. You can see an advertisement for Pep-o-Mint Lifesavers on page 510 of Life Magazine, Volume 74, Issue 1925, which was published in 1919:
Aside from showing how the shape of the candy resembles its namesake, I doubt a word can be much more colloquial or well known than a century old candy that remains popular to this day, although these days lifesavers are usually fruit flavored rather than minty.
answered Jan 6 at 6:23
TonepoetTonepoet
3,50011527
edited 2 days ago
answered Jan 6 at 6:23
TonepoetTonepoet
3,50011527
answered Jan 6 at 6:23
TonepoetTonepoet
3,50011527
answered Jan 6 at 6:23
TonepoetTonepoet
3,50011527
3,50011527
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6
"life preserver". NJ, USA
– nanny
Feb 25 '15 at 14:34
2
The website of the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institute) returned results for lifebuoy (not hyphenated); life ring, and life belt. It did not return any results for life preserver, which I think should be considered American. if I'm ever drowning I shall not be the least concerned about what anyone calls it, so long as they throw me one!
– WS2
Feb 25 '15 at 14:41
4
"lifesaver". MD, USA. Almost always heard with "throw", as in "She threw him a lifesaver". Also, hence the name of the candy. (To me, "life preserver" = "life jacket" = a thing you put on as a precaution, not something that generally gets tossed to you after the fact.)
– Hellion
Feb 25 '15 at 14:43
1
In Britain a life-saver is a term given to a person who saves lives. see this: rnli.org/NewsCentre/Pages/…
– WS2
Feb 25 '15 at 14:46
3
@WS2 nice try, but LifeSavers candy was invented in 1912 in Ohio. Your Polo Mints are but a pale imitation. ;-p
– Hellion
Feb 25 '15 at 17:01