How Did Pipe Shapes Get Their Names.

[pitchfork]

I wonder if billiard might have had another meaning, like what is the pool game named after? Maybe that has something to do with it.

Yeah, I'm guessing it's French in origin.
From the OED entry for "billiards":
Etymology:

 

[mso489]

The bottom of the billiard pipe shape bowl is rounded like a billiard ball, to make the most obvious guess. That may not be the origin, but it has long been the first thing that came to mind.

 

[pitchfork]

OK, I screwed up somehow and can't edit the post, but here's part of the OED entry for "billiards";

Etymology:

 

[pitchfork]

OK, something's just wrong with the combox quote function. I'll come back later, but basically the French "billard"/"billart" means a bent stick or piece of wood, or a cudgel-shaped piece of wood. In other words, if billiard (the pipe) is French in origin, it's probably based on the shape of the basic briar pipe -- i.e., straight, but with a shorter piece sticking out (i.e. the bowl).

 

[pitchfork]

<br />

 

[aldecaker]

Ah. There's our trouble-free Swiss watch of a quote function again, I see.

 

[pitchfork]

Etymology: -- French billard, Old French also billart , the game; so named -- billard ‘a cue,’ originally ‘a stick with curved end, a hockey-stick,’ diminutive of bille piece of wood, stick: see billet n.2 and -ard suffix. In English introduced only as the name of the game, and made plural as in draughts, skittles, bowls, and other names of games.

OK, I figured out the source of the problem: it was sideways "arrow" figure (on the same key as the comma), which I've replaced with "--" The quote function itself seems to be OK.
Here's the old French Dictionary entry for "billiard":

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Ha ha, thanks Pitchfork. That was a vaient effort, and score! Makes sense to me.

 

[tuold]

Who would have thought there is actually an OomPaul.com?
Here is a page germane to the thread:
How the Oom Paul Got Its Name.

 

[mso489]

Oom-Paul was such a nasty customer, many of the admirers of the pipe shape have resorted to the other common name for the shape, Hungarian. In the same way I don't like to think of Joseph Stalin every time I light up some Royal Yacht, which was supposedly his favorite blend.

 

[hugodrax]

The Lovat was named after Lord Lovat.
Prince after King Edward Viii whilst Prince of Wales, the Duke after Edward the VIII abdicated and became the Duke of Windsor.
Donkey-nuts were named after, well, perhaps better not to, what?

 

[jackswilling]

http://www.tobaccopipes.com/a-complete-guide-to-tobacco-pipe-shapes-almost/
http://www.smokemag.com/0998/pipes/shape.htm
http://thepipeguys.com/smoking-pipe-shapes-guide/

 

[randelli]

There needs to be a mic drop smiley for posts like the one above. BOOM!
Thanks Jack, those links answer a lot of my questions.

 

[hmhaines]

Love learning things like this. Thanks fellas!

 

[shawnofthedead]

A lot of the explanations sound like they were made up after the shape was already named. But then who cares? I like shapes with unexplanable names, makes people wonder about its origin.

 

[blueeyedogre]

Cutty pipes were popular with sailors and one on the sailing ships was called a cutter. :?:

 

[brianlevine]

Check out the Pipe Parts segment of this episode of the Pipes Magazine Radio Show for info on pipe shape names: http://pipesmagazine.com/blog/radio-talk-show/the-pipes-magazine-radio-show-episode-199/#more-10046

 

[darthcider]

I have a pipe called Colin, after a bloke in work

 

[randelli]

@darthcider - that is somewhat disturbing...
Hey good news / bad news! Good news: I made the pipes magazine radio show podcast!! Bad news: I was featured in the rant section!!! The only reason I know this is because brianlevine posted a link to show #199, which I listened to. I liked the show and listend up to #211 today - and there I was. I will have to go back to #1 and work my way through the 200 hours that I missed!

 

[darthcider]

@randelli - just joshing around