>How did the Americans ever coin a name like sport utility for a type
>of vehicle which in most cases is the antithesis of sporty?
>
>I remember when I was in Australia.....the Ozzies (not the Osbournes!) used
>to call the trucks UTES as in Utility Vehicle
>
>The roadwork men down under also used to wear these orange socks and these
>little shorts "stubbies"....men here in the US wouldn't be caught dead
>wearing such a  short short......and we also don't wear those speedo shorts
>either, unless we're in high school swim or water polo team......those Euros
>love those banana slings.........not too impressive of a look, especially
>when coming out of cold water......."shrinkage".........whoh! am I off on a
>tangent...........anyway I first heard ute back in the mid 80's in Oz.

The Aussies claim to have INVENTED the pickup, which they call
"utility" or ute. Like most such claims, I doubt it is true. But if
it IS true, then "ute" is more valid than pickup.

In Fiji they ignorantly call pickups with vinyl canopies, which are
extensively used as taxis, "vans".

Stubbies? There's a funny cartoon I've seen, with caption "Real men
wear stubbies". It's a fellow, swigging a beer can, standing with
skinny legs separated; one bit hangs out of one stubbie leg, the
other bits from the other leg. It's quite funny.
--
Regards
Andrew