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Why do they call them...?

Why do they call them...?

Why do they call them...?

(OP)
Semi's?  If these have 18 wheels, what does a whole truck look like?

Station wagons?  Which station?  What kind of wagon?

DB

RE: Why do they call them...?

==> Which station?
The train station.

==> What kind of wagon?
The kind of wagon that could transport people to and from the train station, with room in the back for their luggage.

It was the 'station wagon'.

Good Luck
--------------
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein

RE: Why do they call them...?

Semi:  I have seen references to Semi-Permanent Trailer, presumably referring to the fact that the tractor and trailer are detachable.

RE: Why do they call them...?


Truck has a rigid body that supports all of the load.
Semi-trailer has a rigid body that supports a substantial part, approx half the load. The rest of the load is supported by the trailer. Hence semi-trailer
Trailer. Almost the entire load is supported by the trailer

RE: Why do they call them...?

Of course the English word for a "semi" is much more understandable: "articulated vehicle", or "artic" for short.

RE: Why do they call them...?

(OP)
How 'bout "take off" as when a plane takes off?  Maybe that comes from when ballast had to be taken off in order for a balloon to rise??

DB

RE: Why do they call them...?

"Semi-trailer has a rigid body that supports a substantial part, approx half the load. The rest of the load is supported by the trailer. Hence semi-trailer"

I presume you meant to say that the rest of the load is supported by the tractor, (which is consistent with the definition given at the site below).

A short history of semitrailers can be found at http://www.amtrex.net/semitrailer_definition.htm

It also describes the invention of the "5th wheel". That's the point at which "artics", as described by Somptinguy,  articulate.

RE: Why do they call them...?

I think 'take-off' predates aviation and referred to jumping.  The 'take-off' spot was where you began the jump.

Good Luck
--------------
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein

RE: Why do they call them...?

Just a guess, but I would think that aeronautical "take off" could be from the "rapid/speedy/hastily depart" sense.
e.g. When confronted, he took off like a bat out of Hell.


Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of FAQ559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions  FAQ559-1091

RE: Why do they call them...?

(OP)
I would think there should be a point where the literal sense of the word "take" would have morphed from original to new usage.  To use the term in its literal sense I would take off my shirt or take off my hat.  I would take off the old roofing before I put on the new.  What did one have to "take off" in order to leave like that proverbial bat?

DB

RE: Why do they call them...?

May be a derivative of the older saying "to take flight" meaning "to run away".


Helpful SW websites every user should be aware of FAQ559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions  FAQ559-1091

RE: Why do they call them...?

"Take off ya hoser!" - Bob & Doug McKenzie

Cheers,
CanuckMiner

RE: Why do they call them...?

Take off your person from the earth?

RE: Why do they call them...?

Funny, I thought that what we American call a "Semi" was called a "lorrie" in Europe.  At least, that how I heard them refered to  when I was there on vacation.

Edward L. Klein
Pipe Stress Engineer
Houston, Texas

"All the world is a Spring"

All opinions expressed here are my own and not my company's.

RE: Why do they call them...?

A "lorry" refers to any heavy goods vehicle, regardless of whether it comprises a tractor and trailer.  The nearest word to it in American is a "truck" (but not the passenger vehicle type of truck). An "articulated lorry" is a subset of all lorries.

p.s. Note the spelling.

RE: Why do they call them...?

Excellent - thanks SomtingGuy!  Another new piece of knowledge for the day.

Edward L. Klein
Pipe Stress Engineer
Houston, Texas

"All the world is a Spring"

All opinions expressed here are my own and not my company's.

RE: Why do they call them...?


In Australia, slang for said vehicle is semi.

It is not uncommon to see a semi on the road without a trailer. In this case it is referred to as the prime mover.

RE: Why do they call them...?

In India it is Lorry. A heavy vehicle truck used to transport loads,it may be a trailer too,but commonly called as lorry.

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