I am old school but not old. My parents were 40 and 43 when I was born so older than usual. The other day I asked for gem clip meaning paper clip. No one had ever heard the term gem clip. Also, I don’t anymore but we always referred to white potatoes as “Irish potatoes”. Am I the only one living in the 19th century? I am from Georgia so this could be a southern thing.
I have never heard either of those terms.
I’ve heard “Irish potatoes” and probably wouldn’t blink if I heard someone refer to potatoes that way, although I’m more likely to call them “white potatoes” if I need to distinguish them from sweet potatoes.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard the term “gem clip” and would have no idea what you were talking about if you said it to me. I wonder, does it come from a brand name?
What about sweet milk, as opposed to buttermilk. I have heard Irish potatoes and gem clip. There are others, I am sure. Can’t think of them just now.
Any body else?
Interesting. “Gem” is Swedish for paperclip (not pronounced the same way as the English word, closer to “game”). Looking into its etymology suggests it comes from a trade mark “gem paperclips”, and a Google image search gets some relevant results.
However, Clippy was no gem.
I’d know what a gem clip was, though I’d never heard anyone using that to describe it.
I do remember “Irish potatoes,” though I grew up in potato country and the farmers were Polish.
First thing I thought of when you said gem was actually a binder clip. As I read, I figured it was a brand name.
And if you’d said Irish potatoes to me, I’d have assumed it was a way of preparing spuds.
I could tell you tales about working with young uns, tho… :eek:
Oh Yes, Sweet milk. How could I have forgotten that one?
I always thought Gem was a brand name, but apparently it is or has become a generic description.
source: wikipedia
I thought “sweet milk” was specifically unpasteurized and unhomogenized, more or less straight from the cow. I didn’t realize it was just opposed to buttermilk.
I would think Irish potatoes was a recipe.
Made with sweet milk and Gem clips.
I have heard the term “gem” in reference to paperclips before, but not often. If asked for one, it would probably take me a few moments of my brain gears turning to figure it out.
I’m not even sure what is meant by “white” potatoes? Non-sweet? Or regular “starchy” potatoes like Russetts (brown on the outside, white inside) as opposed to yellow ones like Yukon Golds? Or like waxy red potatoes (white on the inside)
You don’t hear “steam shovel” much anymore, but for some reason pavement rollers are still called “steam rollers.”
Just a plain ol’ brown on the outside potato.
My Mother called cornbread; eggbread. I think it might have been from her Mother who was of dutch origin. Her cornbread was more cakey and sweet than traditional cornbread.
Ooh! I am gonna make some, right now.
I’ve heard this term exactly one time, while stationed at Ft. Stewart. It was a clerk at the phone company, and I had to ask what the heck a “gem clip” was. Got a look like I was a few bricks short of a full hod, an exasperated sigh, and the explanation. Partly why I still remember it today. So on that slim evidence, I’m going to go with a regional thing.
AskNott thats because a hot roller (vs a vibrating roller) still uses steam to heat the roller drum.
Irish potatoes–sure. My parents from Southern Virginia 1920s-1940s, always called them that.
Gem clip–I would have known that ,but never heard anyone say it in real life.
Sweet milk(as opposed to buttermilk)–sure. Parents and grandparents Southern Virginia.
I would instantly know what a gem clip is. In my case because in my youth (school) I would purchase Gem brand paper clips.