Which is objectively a better word. Ah Americans - twice the syllables, twice the letters, and it doesn’t even flash!
Reminiscent of “elevator”, except that has four times the syllables! “Transportation” (transport), “burglarize” (burgle), “garbage collector” (dustman), “apartment” (flat)… I’m detecting a pattern.
They can flash by pressing the button. On some flashlights partially pressing and releasing the button flashes the light off and on. That’s a notable difference from, say, lanterns where you need a cover or shield for signalling.
The problem with “torch” is that there’s already a thing called “torch”, and now I don’t know which thing you mean. The word “flashlight” has avoided critical ambiguity in many of our Indiana Jones movies.
Which is objectively a better word. Ah Americans - twice the syllables, twice the letters, and it doesn’t even flash!
Reminiscent of “elevator”, except that has four times the syllables! “Transportation” (transport), “burglarize” (burgle), “garbage collector” (dustman), “apartment” (flat)… I’m detecting a pattern.
Except torch is a fancy stick with one end on fire. Flashlight is a light giving an intense flash, used for photographing at night or indoors.
They can flash by pressing the button. On some flashlights partially pressing and releasing the button flashes the light off and on. That’s a notable difference from, say, lanterns where you need a cover or shield for signalling.
The problem with “torch” is that there’s already a thing called “torch”, and now I don’t know which thing you mean. The word “flashlight” has avoided critical ambiguity in many of our Indiana Jones movies.
Oh come on, this is obvious post-hoc justification!
Indeed, it’s a thing that you hold in your hand to provide light, as it has been for thousands of years.
It’s nice that in Star Trek they went with British English for their turbolifts.
Can you imagine having to say turboelevator? shudders