The etymology of the words cubbie and glick

[Tony]

It struck me as funny at the last BBB about the proliferation of some shortened phrases, which clearly have evolved over years and possibly come from reading online rather than spread through word of mouth - which makes pronunciation changes more likely.

Cubbie (pronounced cub-ee) used to refer to 20l and 25l plastic drums.  Presumably derived from the 20l drum's cubic nature and initially pronounced cube-ee, written cubie (or cubee - see chug's post below) and morphed into the pronunciation "cub-ee".  Despite the 25l drums very rectangular nature - nothing like a cube - they are still fondly referred to the same way.

Glick (pronounced that way too!) used for glycerol, which has a soft 'c' - the shortened version 'glyc' picking up a  hard 'k' at the end.

I'm sure there are others too.  Interesting how language evolves.

Edit: As pointed out by oilybloke below, entomology and etymology have very different meanings, and I picked the wrong one.  Thread title updated

[julianf]

Language is so strange - it seems to be the only thing where, if it were normalised to start with, it would then split into sub-groups.

This is the opposite of how most other standards work - usually there are many, which then get trimmed down into one.

[Chug]

There seems to be a split between those who say 'glick' and others who say 'gliss' and I always thought 'cubee' was written cubee, I've rarely seen it written as 'cubie' and only thought it related to 20L thin jobbies and not the harder 25L HDPE which seem to be referred to as 25L drums.

[nigelb]

I'm with Chug on this...whenever I talk about cubie (cube-e) I'm refering to the thin 20lt containers in a cubed box.
A 25lt HDPE is a drum.
A 205lt "drum" of methanol is a barrel.

...and I too am one of those who describe my glycerol as glyc (glick). To be honest it was from Chug that I first heard it.

[Tony]

Definitely a mix - just search VOD for 25l cubee (or cubie) and you'll see them referred to that way - though I'm with you on just calling the 25l ones "drums", coz that's what they are

[K.H]

I call the 25,s carboys

[Tony]

I've painted a face on one of mine and I call him Philip, he's my only friend.

[Julian]

Surely, by association, a drum must be cylindrical.

I'd call the typical KTC container ... thin plastic cuboid inner and cardboard outer a cubie (and spell it like that).

A carboy is a large glass bottle often in a steel frame, so I'm at a loss to know what to call the more robust 20/25 ltr containers.

Perhaps we should invent a name ... a Philip ... hmmm!

[Tony]

Dictionary.com defines a drum as "a cylindrical box or receptacle, especially a large, metal one for storing or transporting liquids".

Carboy is "a large glass bottle protected by basketwork or a wooden box, used especially for holding corrosive liquids".

Jerry can might be closer but they're metal.

[Julian]

Philip can ... why should Jerry get all the glory?

[Tony]

Quite agree.  I'm off to mix some methoxide in my 25l Philip can.

[Chug]

yeah, I always used to call them 5 gallon carboys too Keith, cant think when, or why,  I changed to drum though, weird!

strictly speaking it has to be cylindrical as stated by Julian to be a drum and carboys are usually thought of as glass in some form of protective frame/basket, so yeah we need another name and acronym for 25 litre hdpe containers, a quick search comes back with container or jerry can or drum as the regular choices.

[greasemonkey]

I wonder just how many words I pronounce wrong. I never watch the telly, and rarely listen to the radio. Usually, the only place I get news and information from is the internet, or books. I'd be pretty sure I know words and their meanings, and have never heard them spoken.

It took me a long time to realise Glyc was short for glycerol, and be that time I had decided it was pronounced Glyk, and can't get it out of my head now.

I always associated a carboy with Cider brewing. I thought it was an old Herefordshire term, but obviously not.

Cubie I always called cubie, as in a cubic container of oil. As for the 25 litre HPDE drums, well they have always been five gallon drums to me.

[Oilybloke]

The forum pedant..........

Should be etymology. Entomology is the study of insects.

Oily.

[greasemonkey]

The forum pedant..........

Should be etymology. Entomology is the study of insects.

Oily.

Now that really is comical.
I wonder did Tony put the wrong word as a Red Heron, or was it a mistake?