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.
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
ReplyDeleteI do! I call them samaras! As a child I call them helicopters, but polynose is much funnier.
ReplyDeleteMy (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.
ReplyDeleteMy 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."
DeleteSame here! Polly nose because then you look like a parrot. My mother was from Queens, and that was the story!
DeleteI grew up in Queens, and we called them Pollynoses! I never thought to double check the spelling, but I always assumed it was “Polly” because it was like a parrot’s beak (which it admittedly didn’t resemble at all)! 😄
DeleteJust taught the grandkids.the tradition is passed on!by the way it was Queens NY too.now alive in Scappoose OR
ReplyDeletePretty sure we called them polywags, growing up in B'klyn.
ReplyDeleteYou’re right B’klyn; “polywag” as differentiated from polywog, an early tadpole.
DeleteThough could be a Queens thing...
My neighborhood...Flatbush Bklyn...we called them polynoses also...for the same reason another poster stated...you look like a parrot. Polly want a cracker?
DeleteSo...
ReplyDeleteIs this the seed/wing of a maple tree?
You’re right B’klyn-“polywags”; as differentiated from polywog-a tadpole
ReplyDeletePerhaps the maple seed pods resembled the early toads
On LI they were and are still polynoses.
ReplyDeleteAs a LIer, I agree -they were and are forever polynoses
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