Friday, October 12, 2012

Poly Nose




When I was a kid these were called polynoses. Of course, now adults, we call them samaras (really, who does?). Maybe the reason they were called polynoses then was what we did with them: peeled the flat end into two, placing the sticky out-folded ends onto the bridge of our noses, giving us multiple noses -polynose.



9 comments:

  1. I STILL call them poly noses. I'm a kindergarten teacher, that's what I tell the kids they are too. I never knew the real term. I also show them how to properly wear one if that helps. Lol

    ReplyDelete
  2. I do! I call them samaras! As a child I call them helicopters, but polynose is much funnier.

    ReplyDelete
  3. My (Brooklyn-born) mother taught me to call them "Polly noses" - with that spelling, because it referred to sticking them on your nose to make a parrot nose.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My Queens-born mother taught us the same thing! I thought I was the only one who called them that! I was so happy to read confirmation of my childhood, New York-rooted "roots."

      Delete
  4. Just taught the grandkids.the tradition is passed on!by the way it was Queens NY too.now alive in Scappoose OR

    ReplyDelete
  5. Pretty sure we called them polywags, growing up in B'klyn.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You’re right B’klyn; “polywag” as differentiated from polywog, an early tadpole.
      Though could be a Queens thing...

      Delete
  6. So...

    Is this the seed/wing of a maple tree?

    ReplyDelete
  7. You’re right B’klyn-“polywags”; as differentiated from polywog-a tadpole
    Perhaps the maple seed pods resembled the early toads

    ReplyDelete

If I do not respond to your comment right away, it is only because I am busy pulling out buckthorn, creeping charlie, and garlic mustard...