Hoover? but what if your Hoover is an Electrolux? or Kirby? or Miehle?

Hoover is a brand name....(and is the verb form "hoove"?) *grin*...

when analyzed, some UK terms make more sense (petrol, for one..not 'gas', which means several other things) and some US terms make more sense (panties(a diminutive generic)for ladies brief undies, rather than 'knickers', which has roots in a family name Knickerbocker) ..but folks aren't really interested in making sense, are they? They would rather just speak, eat and dress as they learned as a child. Yes...me, too ..it's hard to break out of the mould.