I’ve just learned that apparently some Canadians call their winter hats “toboggans”. That’s crazy talk. Toboggans are the *thing multiple people slide down snow-covered hills in*. They are NOT sleds. Sleds have a single rider and have metal runners.

1 - Toboggan
2 - Sled
3 - Flying saucer

@gedeonm I’m a US southerner born in 1973 and as a kid “toboggan” was the most common word heard around here for a woven winter hat often with a poof ball thing on top.
@ashkendo I hate to say it but you were raised wrong then 😜

@gedeonm @ashkendo This says the term originated in the Appalachian area of US.

"What is a toboggan? Toboggan is a winter hat and has its origin in the south of the USA. It is not just any other winter hat that is referred to as toboggan; it has to be a knit hat. It is also important to point out that toboggan, to New Englanders and a majority of northern USA, is a wooden sled."

https://blisstulle.com/who-calls-a-hat-a-toboggan/

Who Calls A Hat A Toboggan? - Bliss Tulle

In the United States south and midwest, especially Appalachia, it is often called a "toboggan".

Bliss Tulle
@CStamp @ashkendo Yeah sorry but southerners don’t get to name winter things. 😜

@gedeonm @ashkendo This goes into more detail. "The word "toboggan," which many associate with a sled, actually dates back to the 1820s as a French-Canadian adaptation of an Algonquian word, possibly Mi'kmaq or Abenaki, that described a type of sled. Over time, especially in the southern U.S. where snow is scarce, the connection between "toboggan" and "sled" faded, leaving "toboggan" to primarily refer to a wool hat."

Anyway, that was an unexpected rabbit hole.

https://www.sewingman.com/info/the-difference-between-beanie-toboggan-and-to-99828742.html

The difference between beanie, toboggan and touque - Knowledge

The difference between beanie, toboggan and touque

Zhangjiagang Sewingman Caps & Apparel Co., Ltd
@CStamp @gedeonm This reminds me of the discussions I had when I went to school in Boston about how we all referred to soda. Everybody from the various regions all had a different word. Soft drinks, soda, tonic, coke (as a generic term); but everybody laughed at the guy who called it “pop”.
@ashkendo @CStamp Don’t get me started on soda. Or subs/hero/grinders. Ooh boy.
@gedeonm @ashkendo Grinders? I've only recently heard of heros and hogies. 😀
@CStamp @ashkendo Yep, growing up grinders were sub-like sandwiches we had at school. This was in New England so it’s a distinctly regional name.

@gedeonm @ashkendo Ok, so... "The grinder sandwich, a beloved staple of delis & lunch counters across the US, derives its name from a simple, yet practical source: the hefty bread required to contain its generous fillings. Initially, the name referenced the robust, often Italian-style, crusty bread that required significant “grinding” or chewing. Over time, the name stuck, becoming synonymous with the substantial and satisfying sandwich itself."

Live and learn.

https://www.chefsresource.com/why-is-it-called-a-grinder-sandwich/

Why Is It Called a Grinder Sandwich? - Chef's Resource

Why Is It Called a Grinder Sandwich? Unraveling the Mystery of a Culinary Staple The grinder sandwich, a beloved staple ... Read moreWhy Is It Called a Grinder Sandwich?

Chef's Resource
@CStamp @ashkendo Wow that’s cool. Never knew where that name came from, thanks for that!