Originally posted by Redsy:
What about other trades?
What about the medical field? (just joking)
Most trades, including electrical, have recognized academic qualifications, often through our "City & Guilds" exams, but few have these as a legal requirement.
A few years ago it was made illegal for anyone to install gas piping or fittings unless he is properly qualified and registered. So far as I am aware, there are no specifc requirements for builders, decorators, plumbers, etc., but legislation is progressing so fast these days that I couldn't be sure about these.
[/QUOTE][/B]
Pauluk, can you translate?[/B]
[/QUOTE]
Whew.... That's quite a list, including a few I've never heard of!
Still, I once spent nearly an hour explaining British words down in Georgia, so here goes....
Electric torch = Flashlight
Extractor fan = A ventilation fan used to draw air/fumes out of a room and vent them to the outside, usually from a kitchen, bathroom, or workshop. (What do you call them?)
Plug top = Plug. Just one of the many strange terms used by the IEE. Never understood why they used this one.
Double set = A "set" in conduit mans a bend of 45 deg. or less, so "double set" is two closely spaced sets, such as might be used to connect a surface run conduit to a surface mounted outlet box.
Bubble set = Sorry, I have no idea!
Service lorry = Service truck.
Consumer unit = Main or sub distribution panel in a house.
Water barrel pipe. Most likely refers to normal PVC rainwater pipe. Many people here have an open-topped barrel to collect rainwater of a roof to use it on their gardens.
Fixits. Never heard of this one!
Non-electrical---
Bed sit = Bed-sitter, short for bedroom-sitting room. Basically a small one-room apartment.
Rone pipes. Don't know. Maybe a brand name?
Pockey hat. We have many types of hat, but I'm afraid this is another one that this "Limey" has never heard of!
Drum of bitter (my favorite). "Bitter" is a popular type of beer, strongly flavored with hops. I'm not a beer drinker myself, but yes, most people here do have it warm.
Coshed = Hit on the head with a cosh, a weighted stick or bludgeon such as might be used by a robber.
Market trolley = Shopping cart.
Shooting brake. An older term for what is now called a estate car. Same as a station wagon.
Tower block flat = Apartment in a very tall, plain building. Found in our bigger towns. Has rather negative connotations these days, as most are in very run-down areas.
Hope this helps.
