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Bubbler
01
(Wisconsin, parts of the Midwest) a drinking fountain
Grammatical Information
Animacy status
Inanimate
Composition
Compound
Countable
Plural form
bubblers
What does "bubbler" mean in Wisconsin and Midwestern slang?
It is used in Wisconsin (especially Milwaukee and surrounding areas), Rhode Island, and parts of Massachusetts to describe a drinking fountain. People typically say "Can I get a drink from the bubbler?" or "The bubbler's over by the gym." The term originated in the late 19th century from the Kohler Water Works company in Wisconsin, which manufactured a drinking fountain called "The Bubbler," and the brand name became genericized, remaining a strong regional marker, especially in the Upper Midwest.
Examples
The kids ran to the bubbler after recess.
02
any of various devices in which air or some other gas is bubbled through a liquid
Lexical Tree
bubbler
bubble
