If I refer to a paper tissue as a "Kleenex" or to making a copy as "Xeroxing," what word describes what I am doing?

robboy

There is a term called 'genericised trademark' which describes what that's all about, but I can't think of a single word for the process. Essentially, you're taking a trademarked product or idea and applying it to the generic industry of that product. Lots of other examples, like bandaids and champagne. Apr 27 05, 2:09 PM

lanfranco

Right you are, robboy, but there is a single word, according to my source. It's a form of metonymy. And it drives trademark attorneys mad. Apr 27 05, 2:15 PM

Flynn_17

I prefer the terms 'shameless plugging' and 'name dropping'. Apr 27 05, 2:40 PM

robboy

Close as I can come is antonomasia, which is the substitution of the realm for the proper word(and vice-versa) which is what genericising is all about, but without using a very alien word that sounds like something a witch doctor would proscribe. My ex, the linguistics pro, could slap the word out in a heartbeat, but, well.... Apr 27 05, 2:52 PM

peasypod

The term "proprietary eponyms" seems to pop up in my mind. Apr 27 05, 3:35 PM

lanfranco

But robboy, you've done it! Autonomasia, which as I said is a form of metonymy, has come to be applied to the practice of using a trademarked name as a generic term or even a verb. One of my favorites is the British term "hoovering" for vacuuming. My source, incidentally, is "More Weird and Wonderful Words," edited by Erin McKean (Oxford, 2003.) By the way, I'm sure you're much more fun to play with than your ex, the linguistics pro. Apr 27 05, 4:00 PM