Probably a silly question but...

[simonsfotos]

Being new to all this MV thing this year, can someone tell me why the canvas cover on the back of MVs is called a 'tilt'?

[antarmike]

tilt2  /tɪlt/

–noun 1. a cover of coarse cloth, canvas, etc., as for a wagon.

2. an awning.

 

–verb (used with object) 3. to furnish with a tilt.

 

 

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Origin:

1400–50; late ME, var. of tild, OE teld; c. G Zelt tent, ON tjald tent, curtain

 

Late M E = Late Middle English, O E = Old English, O N = Old Norse,

 

I presume G = German??

Edited October 8, 2009 by antarmike

[No Signals]

So you can see the term has been around for a long time. Got to admit it had me baffled too until I asked the same thing on here and got a similar selection of well informed answers!

[simonsfotos]

Thanks for the answer. Must learn to use a dictionary!

[woa2]

I know about the difference between a Hood and a Bonnet on a vehicle, but why do the Americans call the rear body on a truck, a Float?

[Tony B]

Another Tilt was a canvas type tent used as a target for arrows and lances. They were placed in Tilting yards to train knights.

[Snapper]

Hence 'tilting at windmills' in Don Quixote

 

I've read a fine range of books full of words carefully chosen at random.

 

M

[Richard Farrant]

why do the Americans call the rear body on a truck, a Float?

 

 

 

and to add to that, the Australians call it a tray :confused:

[fv1609]

There's over 200 pages of it here:

 

 

[Tony B]

Try walking into a room full of American Girls and say 'I'm dying for a fag'. :sweat::red: