In reading the Sookie Stackhouse novels I notice that whenever the word “dumpster” appears, it’s capitalized. It’s always the Dumpster. And it’s not always the same one, like it’s THE Dumpster.
Is this a proper noun that I was never aware of?
It’s a brand name; originally a Dempster-Dumpster. Like kleenex and jello, it often gets genericized by not being capitalized.
From the Simpsons:
Along with Thermos, Ping-Pong, Laundromat, Styrofoam, Peg-Board, Plexiglas, Day-Glo, Kitty Litter… I worked as a copy-editor, and needed to know these things!
Thanks! I was wondering if it was something like that.
I did not know that!