A question of vocabulary

[Billfred]

What do you call a wall- or floor-mounted device that provides a stream of water for drinking?

[Joe Matt]

I put water fountain down, but then realized I don't call it that.

It's a drinking fountain Bilfred.

[savage301]

I call it a drinking fountain. But I also call soda pop just pop.

[sciencenerd]

Here in the great Northwest they're generally referred to as drinking fountains or occasionally water fountains. I've never even heard it described as a "bubbler" before.

[Katie Reynolds]

Bubbler!

[Dan Petrovic]

I put water fountain.

but I'm from New England...

does that mean I'm supposed to call it a bubbler?

[EricH]

Drinking fountain. (possibly just fountain.)

[JBotAlan]

Yeah, I also put water fountain but I do call it a drinking fountain. Either would not sound out of place.

Where did you hear "bubbler"? I have never heard that once!

JBot

[Katie Reynolds]

Originally Posted by JBotAlan

Where did you hear "bubbler"? I have never heard that once!

It's (mostly) a Wisconsin thing, especially in eastern and central Wisconsin. I guess it's also used in some NE states and Australia (?)!! Here's the history lesson ...

The Bubbler was developed in 1888 by the then-small Kohler Water Works (now Kohler Company) in Kohler, Wisconsin, which was already well-known for its faucet production. While Harlan Huckleby is credited with the actual design, it was Kohler that patented it and trademarked the name. The original Bubbler shot water one inch straight into the air, creating a bubbling texture, and the excess water ran back down over the sides of the nozzle. It was years before the bubbler adapted the arc projection, which allowed the drinker to partake more easily.

Source: Wikipedia

[Cody Carey]

How about mystic water-bringer?

[Jaine Perotti]

I've heard it used mostly in southeastern New Hampshire and eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. I always thought it might have been a Boston-influenced type of thing. I'm surprised to hear that it is used elsewhere in the country!

Anyways, I'm more of a western New-Englander when it comes to my speech. I call it a water fountain. However, I still use the word "wicked" somewhat frequently... although I think I started using that word after I met my stepmom, who is... surprise! - from southeastern New Hampshire.

[artdutra04]

The last time I was at a tag sale eating some wicked awesome clam chowdah, I saw an antique drinking fountain for sale.

[KelliV]

I come from Chicago, I have always called it a water fountain.
I call "soda pop" pop, the CTA train the El, Chicago "the city", and the living room in the house is the "front room".
Bubbler is what my friends from up north call it.

[anna~marie]

Originally Posted by KelliV

Bubbler is what my friends from up north call it.

I hope by up north you don't mean Michigan... everyone I know calls it a drinking fountain

[Donut]

I call it a drinking fountain.

But I've actually heard bubbler before.

I call remote controls tuners though, so who knows?