What do you call these? - Look at the pictures

Question

Hi,what do you commonly call this in the US? Loader? Front-loader? And this one? Excavator? Backhoe?http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/Kettenbagger_CAT_325C_LN.jpeg Is there a word to refer to both of them?Thanks

BarbaraPA · Accepted Answer

Kooyeen, I can't answer your question because I call just about everyting a "bulldozer" and when I need to show that type of equipment in the brochures I write, I call them (I'm not kidding) "some big yellow earth-moving equipment."

But this site might help: http://www.bobthebuilder.com/usa/intro.html

(Actually the first one is a front loader, I think, and the second one is an excavator. There was a video that mostly little boys watched that consisted of big trucks and such moving dirt around and had all those names. So any four-year-old boy who had that video could tell you. I had girls who were not interested in trucks.)

Kooyeen · Answer

Thanks.
LOL, what was that site? There were games for children...
Anyway, I cheked in some dictionaries and on Wikipedia before asking here, but there are several names and I'm not sure all of them are commonly used and people know them.
The first should be commonly called a "loader" or "front loader", the second a "digger" or "excavator", or "backhoe"...
But since I'm not sure...

By the way, you mentioned "earth" and "dirt". Are they synonyms? Talking about the stuff those vehicles move... I think "soil" cold be used too, but it's not so common in this context.
Thanks

Clive · Answer

Hi,

'Frontloader' sounds about right to me, but I rarely speak of such things and would probably say something like 'They were digging up the parking lot at school today with machines'.

'Backhoe' is something I do say, perhaps because I know the wrod and it makes me feel masculine to say it.

In Canada, we usually speak of 'earth', sometimes of 'soil'. I see 'dirt' as an Americanism.

Best wishes, Clive

Lil&apos; Ruby Rose · Answer

In the UK, we'd commonly refer to both of these as a digger or mechanical digger.

BarbaraPA · Answer

That was the site for "Bob the Builder," a popular children's character. That was just to make you laugh.

But look at this site: http://www.cat.com/cda/layout?m=37840&x=7

This one is actually useful for your question.

Kooyeen · Answer

Thank you all!
Yep Barb, that site was useful too, thanks.

MrPedantic · Answer

I'm slightly concerned, Kooyeen. How do you intend to use this slightly recherché terminology?

http://archive.oxfordmail.net/2002/11/27/30230.html

MrP

Kooyeen · Answer

LOL, MrP, from that link:

Mr Beesley -- known as `Digger' to his friends...

I'm not known as Digger... I only wanted to know what those machines were called, I'm not going to use a bulldozer to demolish the bathroom wall of my neighbours' house so that I can watch my neighbour's wife and daughter when they... well I'm not going to do that. I already tried, but my mother told me off, so I'm not going to try again.

What do you call these? - Look at the pictures

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