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You know, not every thingamajig I name has to be a fodder for party conversation. Sometimes, just the knowledge of the correct name, pedestrian as it might be, should suffice. So with that in mind, I’d like to out those round, plastic discs you see at the base of ski poles.
They’re called baskets, and are intended to prevent the pole from sinking too far into deep snow. Admittedly, basket is a pretty lame name for the thingamajig, and, as we’ve done before, I’d like to invite you all to come up with something better.
Leave your suggestion in the comments and I’ll pick one creative person as winner, to be named in next week’s thingamajig post.
Comments (28)
Comment
pole catch or pole arrester
posted by Jason! on 12-14-2006 at 11:12 am
Well yes, I thought when you said ski pole basket it would be something to put things in whilst you ski, ie spare sunglasses, bar of chocolate, flask of hot coffee etc., but no, it’s a little bit of plastic, in fact it’s a FLANGE. Yes that’s what it should be called. A flange says it all, it’s not a floppy flange however it is a rigid flange this is far better than a floppy flange because it will make all the difference to amount of plunge you get from the ski pole when in use. Far better than a basket of course as it takes away the misconception of what it might be used for especially for those who are not ski orientated.
posted by Paula on 12-14-2006 at 11:16 am
this would be a snow flotation device or a snow-float
posted by tim on 12-14-2006 at 11:17 am
Snow stopper
posted by Denise on 12-14-2006 at 11:18 am
“Snow ya don’ts”
posted by Sheldon Siegel on 12-14-2006 at 11:19 am
Snow guard
posted by Tracy on 12-14-2006 at 11:26 am
Snow density gauge
posted by Billy on 12-14-2006 at 11:27 am
How about desinkificator?
posted by Anthony on 12-14-2006 at 11:45 am
I would lean toward “spow”.
posted by Marika on 12-14-2006 at 11:56 am
“snop” or “snopper”
posted by Rick Sharrock on 12-14-2006 at 12:13 pm
Snow Stubber
posted by Joan on 12-14-2006 at 12:35 pm
Pole-catch
posted by Johnny Cat on 12-14-2006 at 12:49 pm
Perpindularly-mounted precipitate penitration inhibitor
posted by Wyrmgear on 12-14-2006 at 12:56 pm
the pole’s snowflake-brake
posted by Brickfoot on 12-14-2006 at 1:07 pm
As it is a spear, of a sort, one might call this a “guard.”
posted by Natty Bumppo on 12-14-2006 at 1:18 pm
No Snow Low Go
posted by Dawn Lorraine on 12-14-2006 at 1:52 pm
I always preferred “useless-damn-thing-that-gets-stuck-to-my-boots-at-the-worst-possible-times”
the real reason they put those on the poles is so they can charge an additional $25-45 for a pair of poles
posted by nick on 12-14-2006 at 2:24 pm
Thing-that-stops-the-pole-from-going-completely-through-your-thigh
posted by another one on 12-14-2006 at 2:48 pm
I like Brickfoot’s flake brake idea.
It could also be a lauch pad, komperdoily, leki landing gear, pole lock or dirt skirt.
posted by Tom on 12-14-2006 at 3:11 pm
Skorwiffle. It needs one word that has not been used yet, and so I nominate this word.
posted by Monkeys With Guns on 12-14-2006 at 5:46 pm
They Dont Worky When You Actually Need Em…
“DWYANEs”
And the replaceable big ones that might work if they didnt Come Off At The Exact Wrong Moment…
“CoaTewms”
posted by Turfdraagster on 12-14-2006 at 9:03 pm
Diski (a disk at the bottom of a ski pole). And since the word ends with s-k-i, it’s also a Pole.
I know. Bad pun. No treats for me.
posted by Adrienne on 12-14-2006 at 9:26 pm
hilts
posted by blake on 12-14-2006 at 11:36 pm
On-guards.
posted by Andrej on 12-14-2006 at 11:37 pm
Basket is a good name. Don’t you still dial the telephone?
www.vintageskiworld.com/photos/products/poles/bamboo_child_metal_lower_la.jpg
www.vintageskiworld.com/photos/products/poles/bamboo_used_1930_large.jpg
posted by nf2q2ieyf8 on 12-15-2006 at 11:46 am
I like KYFDIAS -
posted by Amanda on 12-16-2006 at 10:32 pm
I like KYFDIAS - pronounced kyf - dye- as. (Keep You From Disappearing Into A Snowdrift)
posted by Amanda on 12-16-2006 at 10:34 pm
The “Overinsertion Preventer”
posted by Seth on 12-18-2006 at 11:19 am