Funny Car Words

[DeskJockey]

BiL rang to ask some advice about his car (flat battery, most likely original, replace), and in speaking about cars in Danish it made me think about how funny some of the words are.

The word for bonnet translates as "engine helmet", which I can't help but snigger at. At the other end the boot (itself an odd word for what it is) is the "luggage room". And on the outside the bumpers (front and rear) are "cow catchers".

Back when cars were a new thing, one of the daily newspapers ran a competition to come up with a shorter name than automobile. The eventual winner was "bil", but the runner up was "tøf" (think of Officer Crabtree from Allo Allo saying "tough") which translates to "put" as in the put put sound of small engines.

Any other great examples?

[Beany]

There were some interesting ones that I came across when talking a swedish chum through doing a crank sensor on a SAAB, but honestly, they escape me now.

[jamcg]

Headlights in German “ Scheinwerfer” translate as “shine throwers”