Here is my attempt from a couple of years ago to understand the difference.
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MONDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2013
I Was Wondering...Spigot vs. Faucet
What is the difference between a spigot and a faucet?
In my last Thankful Sunday post, I said I was thankful for the cold water that came out of the faucet at the house I was visiting. Well, that's what I said, but not the first time I wrote it. The first time, I said that I was thankful for the cold water that came out of the spigot. I wasn't sure what to say, but I was tired and just chose one. Now that I have a little time, I thought I would figure out what was what.
And once again, I'm confused because they are synonyms of each other. Both spigot and faucet refer to atap (another synonym) or a valve that controls the flow of liquid into something. You can have a tap in anything from a cask to a water pipe. I never thought about it, but that is where the phrase "tap water" comes from that refers to water coming straight from the faucet/spigot/tap.
However, there are some US regional variations in usage. In the south, spigot is more commonly used while faucet is more commonly used in the north. Also, some use spigot to mean a tap outside and one that is more utilitarian while faucet is used for a tap inside that is fancier.
So there you have it. Use either one you want and you will be okay. After all of this talk about water, I'm thirsty. I'm going to have a drink of tap water from the faucet after I wash my hands from the spigot in the bathroom. :)
What word do you use, and do you use different words for a tap in different situations?
Want to know more?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tap_%28valve%29
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/faucet
I do like this post. I have only spigots outside attached to the house, but all my inside water taps would be faucets. However we have 2 below ground level water taps that are in the yard. I guess that is why people think The South is a little nuts?
ReplyDeleteI don't think the South is a little nuts. But I grew up south of the Mason Dixon line the official boundary for North and South. It all seems perfectly logical to me.
DeleteWell, it seems completely sane to me too, but I have noticed a raised eyebrow or two when I am north of that infamous line.
DeleteI'm in the north, and we have faucets indoors and spigots outdoors. Not sure about the ground level water taps ...
DeleteI think regional language terms are fun. :)
Local terms were really fun when we lived in New Orleans. It's definitely a world of it's own down there.
DeleteI use "tap" or "faucet" here but for outside water taps, I do say "spigot" but I'd never thought of it before.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you're with the majority with your "tap" nomenclature.
DeleteWhat timing you have! This week I pulled the diverter knob on the shower's faucet to force the water up the shower head instead of down into the tub from the faucet and it came off in my hand. After giving up on living with the faucet this way I went online to see how much a new "tub faucet" would run. It wasn't until I used the word spigot that I found any results. Who knew that spigot was the proper term for that pesky part in the tub. I did see for the sinks, whether kitchen or bath, the preferred term is faucet.
ReplyDelete