# Wireless

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless/151491>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 30, 2003, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless/151491 "2003-01-30T01:51:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![TJ555\_The\_Golfer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/41988e/32.png) [@TJ555\_The\_Golfer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJ555_The_Golfer)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless/151491/1 "2003-01-30T01:51:17Z")

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I was re-reading the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and it is mentioned that the house the kids are staying in has a wireless. What is a wireless? I am sure it had a diffreent meaning in 1950, but I don’t know what it is.

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**Author:** ![owlofcreamcheese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@owlofcreamcheese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlofcreamcheese)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless/151491/2 "2003-01-30T02:14:53Z")

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radio

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**Author:** ![SlickRoenick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@SlickRoenick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlickRoenick)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless/151491/3 "2003-01-30T04:07:27Z")

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telephone

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**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless/151491/4 "2003-01-30T04:09:16Z")

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No, it’s a radio. Specifically, a broadcast radio receiver.

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**Author:** ![Rayne\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@Rayne\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayne_Man)\
**Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wireless/151491/5 "2003-01-30T15:39:17Z")

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This expression is still quite common in the UK , especially amongst the older generation. I think the law regulating the radio spectrum is still called " The Wireless Telegraphy Act ". Back in the thirties and forties everybody called the radio set the “wireless”.