That frozen slush on the bottom of the car
Yuck.
Winter's enthusiastic effort this year has prompted us to consider many issues, among them:
What do you call that wedge of gray, frozen slush that sticks on the bottom of a car behind the wheels?
We've never heard a word for it, but it seemed like one would be useful. For example:
Friend: What are you doing?
You: I'm just kicking the (whatever the word is) off the bottom of the car. I hate that stuff.
So, in search of a name, we asked people on Twitter what's it called. There were many responses...
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Comments
My car drops these blobs on the road, as if it's giving accidental birth to a dirty ice blob. Because my car is large, and high off the ground, there is a lot of space for the lump to grow. Once it falls off ... watch out if you are the driver behind me (seriously, people swerve to dodge my ice babies!)
... said Kristi on Jan 26, 2011 at 11:57 AM | link
I don't know what to call *that thing* but I've long thought the name for the release of it from the wheel well should be "cleaving."
... said Kerosena on Jan 26, 2011 at 12:08 PM | link
@Kerosena: I like that. "Yeah, I have to go cleave the (carnacles, slush flaps, wheel boogers, ice babies) from my car..."
... said Greg on Jan 26, 2011 at 12:12 PM | link
They are called Tirecles.
... said Patrick on Jan 26, 2011 at 12:12 PM | link
I usually call it "The dirty snow mass between the body of my car and its wheels." I find it exhilirating to kick it off; I feel like a winter ninja.
... said Sab on Jan 26, 2011 at 12:14 PM | link
They're an odd color and they keep popping up no matter how much you wish they'd go away? Call them Boehners.
... said Ellsass on Jan 26, 2011 at 12:19 PM | link
"What do you call that wedge of frozen slush that forms behind the wheels of cars during winter?"
I call it "frozen slush."
... said Bob on Jan 26, 2011 at 12:23 PM | link
I think "winterberries" is my favorite suggestion. Hilarious!
... said Meagan on Jan 26, 2011 at 12:25 PM | link
I'm gonna go with car dingles. Gross, perhaps, but so is winter slush.
... said Roon on Jan 26, 2011 at 12:35 PM | link
They're fenderbergs. Duh.
... said Carl on Jan 26, 2011 at 12:41 PM | link
Fender fudge
WTEN's "Man on the Street" segment with John McLoughlin interviewed people about this several years ago, and "fender fudge" was the response that he seemed to like the most.
... said PhillyVegan on Jan 26, 2011 at 12:44 PM | link
How about this? Hellaciers
... said Jordan Carleo-Evangelist on Jan 26, 2011 at 12:56 PM | link
I'm with @nylily: I even kicked some off someone else's car in a parking lot yesterday. I adore it.
... said nomadreader on Jan 26, 2011 at 1:01 PM | link
@nomadreader: There really is something satisfying about kicking them off.
... said Greg on Jan 26, 2011 at 1:05 PM | link
As I was trying to kick mine off this morning (but failed because they were solid ice), I noticed they looked like beards...
sooo: Car Beards
... said Paul on Jan 26, 2011 at 1:10 PM | link
I call them "Sludgesicles."
@Ellsass - since you mentioned his name, can we have a conversation about the pronunciation of "Boehner?"
When two vowels go walking, the first one does the talking.
... said abby on Jan 26, 2011 at 1:45 PM | link
slucretions
... said Mike on Jan 26, 2011 at 3:51 PM | link
crapcicle?
... said Lu on Jan 26, 2011 at 4:16 PM | link
My father has always called them fenderburgers, so that's what I call them, too. It always makes me laugh.
... said Amy on Jan 26, 2011 at 5:03 PM | link
I don't really care what they're called, but the satisfaction of kicking them loose leads me wander around center square relieving cars.
... said Alex on Jan 26, 2011 at 8:07 PM | link
Please. Slush bunnies.
LQ
... said Lou Quillio on Jan 26, 2011 at 9:00 PM | link
My wife's car had the entire wheel well filled. Made a horrid noise when turning. So I attempted to kick them off, of course being the coldest night this month, they were like chunks of concrete. I finally had to get a mallet to get them off.
... said Lint on Jan 26, 2011 at 11:35 PM | link
I had industrial strength ones on mine, and it was effing with my traction. My husband and I had a hell of a time getting them off.
... said irisira on Jan 27, 2011 at 8:07 AM | link
I had a major fail attempting to dislodge one during that really icy night on the 18th. The thing was frozen solid, and kicking did nothing. I attempted to use my ice scraper to hack at it, when a tiny piece broke off and flew into my eye. My eye!!! I'm still alive and can still see, but I was understandably mentally scarred.
... said JGold on Jan 28, 2011 at 5:16 PM | link