hose dragger
n.—Gloss: a nickname for a firefighter.
«Butler, a former Coast Guard captain, conceded he had limited experience as what’s known as a “hose dragger” but noted he has had years of planning and preparatory experience.» —“St. Paul / 4 finalists for fire chief named” by Time Nelson Pioneer Press (St. Paul, Minnesota) Sept. 27, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
You must be logged in to post a comment.
A magnificent new book celebrates the richness and diversity of 450 years of written and spoken English in what is now the United States. It’s called The People’s Tongue, and it’s a sumptuous collection of essays, letters, poems...
In 1916, a small-town newspaper in Pennsylvania printed a fanciful item about a local gathering with a guest list that included, among others, Miss Ella Vader, Mr. Ray Zor, and other punny names. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of...
Another nickname, although not very complimentary, is slab-wetter. Referring to the firemen as those people who do not save structures, just wet down the concrete slab once the structure has burned to the ground.