# Bobsleigh vs. bobsled, snowmobile vs. snow machine **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 18, 2014, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobsleigh-vs-bobsled-snowmobile-vs-snow-machine/681629 "2014-02-18T16:54:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kferr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@kferr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kferr)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobsleigh-vs-bobsled-snowmobile-vs-snow-machine/681629/22 "2014-02-20T16:33:38Z")
On the BBC coverage it’s ‘bobsleigh’. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Doom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Dr\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Doom)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobsleigh-vs-bobsled-snowmobile-vs-snow-machine/681629/23 "2014-02-20T17:12:49Z")
In my neck of the Canadian woods, hardly anyone uses “snowmobile” colloquially. Snow machine is a snowmoblie. “Buyin’ a new snow machine.” Sled is a snowmobile. “Goin’ fer a toot on the sled.” “Gonna be busy sleddin’ this weekend.” I live near, have worked at, and know many who now work at a couple of ski resorts. The machinery that produces man-made snow is referred to as “snow makers.” The process is referred to as “making snow.” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobsleigh-vs-bobsled-snowmobile-vs-snow-machine/681629/24 "2014-02-20T17:14:16Z")
> [@Dr\_Doom](#): > > I live near, have worked at, and know many who now work at a couple of ski resorts. The machinery that produces man-made snow is referred to as “snow makers.” The process is referred to as “making snow.” This is the only term I’ve heard for them (before this thread). ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobsleigh-vs-bobsled-snowmobile-vs-snow-machine/681629/25 "2014-02-21T02:00:48Z")
A snow machine is a utilitarian term used by people that live in places where snowmobiles are actually used to get work and chores done (not North Carolina I suspect). A Sled is the sports model with a special compartment to shovel money into. Calling it a sleigh will get you beat up Friday night in Red Deer. The term ‘snow mobile’ is culturally equivalent to 'marijuana cigarette; practical, descriptive and not used by the locals. ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobsleigh-vs-bobsled-snowmobile-vs-snow-machine/681629/26 "2014-02-21T02:50:22Z")
Fear Itself: > [@](#): > > I would guess if you asked an Alaskan what they called the equipment used to make snow, they would just look at you with a confused look on their face. That’s because they have 200 different words for it. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobsleigh-vs-bobsled-snowmobile-vs-snow-machine/681629/27 "2014-02-21T04:38:20Z")
While, the inventor. Joseph Armand Bombardier, called it [“B7 Snowmobile”](http://s3.e-monsite.com/2010/11/17/11/resize_550_550//4-B7-Snowmobile1.jpg). It was the first modern machine, with steerable skis in front and motorized tracks in back for power. In 1958, his company began selling the[’Ski-Doo snowmobile’](http://media.legrandclub.rds.ca/images/userpics/posts/581/716/59387_large.png), and sales took off. So snowmobile is what the inventor called it. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobsleigh-vs-bobsled-snowmobile-vs-snow-machine/681629/28 "2014-02-21T05:44:02Z")
> [@kferr](#): > > On the BBC coverage it’s ‘bobsleigh’. Given that one of the NBC bobsled/luge/skeleton commentators seems to be an Aussie (maybe a Brit? I don’t have the ear for accents I used to), I wonder if its a UK/US/Aussie English thing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bobsleigh-vs-bobsled-snowmobile-vs-snow-machine/681629.md?page=1)