I have a Numatic Hetty HET200 Vacuum Cleaner. Do I call it that? No. It's a hoover. When I dig it out, I don’t “vacuum” the flat. I “hoover” the flat. “Hoover” is a noun and a verb that has long been synonymous with vacuuming and vacuum cleaner, yet the word actually originates from the Hoover … Continue reading Weird Words – how brand names become generic
