Archive for the ‘Maglite Flashlights’ Category
Proprietary Eponyms
When you have a runny nose, do you reach for a facial tissue, or do you grab a Kleenex? How about during the days leading up to Christmas, when you’re wrapping gifts with transparent cellophane adhesive tape? You probably just call it Scotch tape. These are both examples of proprietary eponyms, or specific brand names that have become synonymous with the generic products themselves.
In most cases, a word becomes a proprietary eponym because it is widely used and trusted by a majority of the public. Such is the case with Maglite flashlights. Kids play tag in the dark with the help of a Maglite, and policemen shine a Maglite in car windows to get the driver’s attention. This brand has become an institution in our culture, and our very language has been adapted as a result.