Brand names make it to the OED!

It’s fascinating to peruse the new words added to the OED. (Here are the words added in June 2007; and added in September 2007.)  Brand names often enter the language as generic terms, and I’ve listed a few of them below. (I wonder who they have in mind with the word “flip-flopper”. And what on earth is a cotylosaur? I thought “chicklet” meant a little piece of gum, but I was disappointed to discover that it means a small chick or girl.)

Google
Goo·gle  – verb: to use the Google search engine to find information on the Internet.

Botox
bo·tox – noun or verb – A proprietary name for: a preparation of botulinum toxin which is injected into specific muscles to create temporary paralysis, as part of the treatment of various medical conditions and in the cosmetic treatment of wrinkles of the face (esp. frown lines and crow’s feet). Also: treatment by this means; a course of such treatment.

Popsicle
pop·sicle – noun – A proprietary name for: an ice lolly.

Hoover
hoo·ver – verb: to clean with a vacuum cleaner (Chiefly British)

Kleenex [see more ads]
klee·nex – noun: the proprietary name of an absorbent disposable cleansing paper tissue.

Xerox
xe·rox – noun or verb: a name for a copying machine or the act of reproducing printed, written, or pictorial matter by xerography.

Thermos
ther·mos  –noun: a vacuum bottle or similar container lined with an insulating material, such as polystyrene, to keep liquid hot or cold

Prozac
pro·zac  -noun: a brand of fluoxetine hydrochloride
Spandex
span·dex  –noun: a synthetic fiber composed of a long-chain polymer, used chiefly in the manufacture of garments to add elasticity

JELL-O
jell·o  -noun: brand of dessert made from a mixture of gelatin, sugar, and fruit flavoring, dissolved in hot water and chilled until firm

Band-Aid
band·aid  -noun: adhesive bandage with a gauze pad in the center, used to cover minor abrasions and cuts

Viagra
vi·ag·ra  -noun: sildenafil citrate, used to treat impotence

Frigidaire
frig·i·daire – noun: the proprietary name of a brand of refrigerator.