Everyday Things We’ve Been Calling the Wrong Name for Decades

We’ve all made mistakes so don’t feel embarrassed or silly about this. Most of the things that we see and use have names. It’s interesting when a large number of people attach the wrong name to things. How does that happen anyway? It’s common to call some items by their brand names for instance. What we then find is that the wrong name is learnt and it is accepted as the actual name. Here are five items that we’ve been calling the wrong name all along.\r \r 1. Gargoyles\r \r The Middle ages were marked by many fascinations in the Gothic period of architecture. France, Italy, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom are known to have figures perching from their buildings. These are often referred to as gargoyles. The National Cathedral is known for that fierce headed sculpture on its northwest tower, the Darth Vader gargoyle. Well, it may be surprising to know that many of these gothic creatures on buildings which we call gargoyles are actually grotesques. The main distinction between the two is that gargoyles have a water sprout coming out of their mouths, whereas grotesques do not. Grotesques primarily serve as protective and decorative items. So, the next time you marvel at these mythical and fantastical figures, remember the right name.\r \r 2. Hashtag or Pound Sign (#)\r \r For all our digital natives and those who are drawn to social media, the hashtag symbol is well known. This side is sometimes referred to as the number sign which is at the bottom right hand corner of the phone keypad. It is also called the pound sign. Musicians know it as the sharp. The official name for the symbol is actually an octothorpe. This arrangement of lines has been around for centuries but there was no official name. Scientists at Bell Laboratories added the # symbol on the phone in the 1960s and then derived the name.\r \r 3. Panini\r \r Panini is made from grilled Italian bread, usually made with a sandwich press. In preparing panini, ingredients such as cheese and delicious cold cuts are used to make these Italian sandwiches. These have become quite popular in America, however, the word panini in America is used to refer to a single pressed sandwich. When buying two, one would say paninis. What’s interesting is that the usage is incorrect. Panini is actually the plural form of “panino” which is the term to be used when referring to one Italian sandwich. Also, in Italy, panini means small bread roll and does not necessarily have to be grilled. In America, panini are always grilled.\r \r 4. Q-Tips\r \r We have all had a reason to use that short rod made of wood, rolled paper or plastic with one or two wads of cotton wrapped on one or both ends. They are often used to clean the ears although doctors say that is a definite no-no. They are useful in applying cosmetics, first aid and infant care. Yes, you guessed it; we have all used Q-tips. But are they all Q-tips? While we refer to them as this, they are called cotton swabs or cotton buds and Q-tip is one brand that makes cotton swabs.\r \r 5. ChapStick\r \r On those hot summer days and cold winters, when your lips are feeling dry and cracked, what do you use? The common response to this question would be “ChapStick.” What people actually mean is “lip balm.” ChapStick is just one among numerous lip balm manufacturers. ChapStick is a brand name trademark for a lip balm that has been around for decades.