Which is it? Billard or Billiard?

[brass]

I've seen it spelled both ways. Assume I'm not shooting pool.
Pax

 

[buroak]

I am pretty sure it has to be Billiard. I cannot imagine that there were any Billiard pipes before English spelling was standardized.

 

[papipeguy]

Billiard. There are many variations so here's a bit of info for you.
http://pipedia.org/wiki/Billiard

 

[mso489]

Billiard. I've often wondered how it was named. Perhaps the association is with the roundness of the bottom of the bowl, like a billiard ball.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Or could it be the straight shaft, as in a billiards cue?

 

[mso489]

Also, it's pronounced bill'-yard, not bill-lard.

 

[aldecaker]

Definitely billiard. Unless it's made by Willard.

 

[bigpond]

Also, it's pronounced bill'-yard, not bill-lard.

or bill eey arde if you're posh.

 

[lonestar]

Actually, I know a few people who pronounce it Billard.

 

[seacaptain]

Ah, the French. Bruyere billiard = Briar ball

 

[rcstan]

I think the only time I've seen that straight pipe referred to as a billard was in a shape chart insert from a catalogue of a certain site sponsor.

 

[jkrug]

I've always gone with billiard but now I'm going with bigpond's pronunciation. Pipe smoking really brings out the posh in me. :D

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

I like to pronounce the "i" along with everything else. Otherwise why is it there?

 

[jpmcwjr]

If the "i" is pronounced like "y" as in "yerd", you're good to go!
Billard is a proper name, at least in France, but doesn't mean the same as a billiards table, ball or cue.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

Mmm, nope. The first half of the word sounds exactly the same as the name "Billy."
Take "Billy Ardvark" and cut the "vark" off (same as Bigpond).

 

[newbroom]

So, where did the name "Billiard" come from? I haven't been able to find a definitive answer. The best explanation I have heard so far was that at the time the shape was named, the game was very popular, so whoever came up with the name for the pipe shape named it after the popular game of the day. Maybe. Good thing the popular game wasn't craps.

billiard pipes

 

[jpmcwjr]

Mmm, nope. The first half of the word sounds exactly the same as the name "Billy."
Take "Billy Ardvark" and cut the "vark" off (same as Bigpond).

OK, regional differences. Where do you live?
In NYC, a club I belonged to had a "billiards room"- pool, snooker and billiards. It was pronounced "bill-yerds". The "i" was mostly swallowed. YMMV.

 

[zekest]

Spelling and pronunciation are different.
The pipe shape is spelled: Billiard, there are no alternative spellings.
On a pipe forum no one cares how you pronounce it, unless you post a video.
Regional pronunciation is different. If you don't pronounce words like the locals, they know you are not one. For example, if I was in Mexico or France asking for lunch, they would know right away I was not a local person.

 

[frozenchurchwarden]

I can't remember hearing any specific pronunciation, that's just how it comes out.