Why is "wrench" translated as "English key" ("llave inglesa") in Spanish? What is English about it? I get the "key" part, because one can "open" things with it, but why English?
asked Jul 16, 2014 at 4:48
B. Clay Shannon-B. Crow RavenB. Clay Shannon-B. Crow Raven
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4You can check in Wikipedia in english: In many European countries (e.g. France, Germany, Portugal, Spain and Italy) the adjustable wrench is called an "English key" as it was first invented in 1842 by the English engineer Richard Clyburn. Another English engineer, Edwin Beard Budding, is also credited with the invention.– EnviteJul 16, 2014 at 5:29
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1 Answer
Should be because was invented by an English/British, also in many countries it's known as llave francesa.
http://rafaelestrella.es/2008/10/05/llave-francesa-o-llave-inglesa/
You can read on wikipedia the article in both languages
answered Jul 16, 2014 at 5:10
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Okay, but why not call every invention by the country of its inventor, then - why was the need felt to specify that a wrench was invented by an Englishman? Jul 16, 2014 at 13:13
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In our countries many things when were new, were called referencing the place where it was invented. Jul 16, 2014 at 13:16
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1@B.ClayShannon: That's a question that goes far beyond the scope of this site :)– FlimzyJul 16, 2014 at 20:50