Paper clips. Amazing things, really. Quite apart from the vast array of functions which any given paper clip might serve (holding two sheets of paper together, for instance. Or three. Sometimes even four), these small metal moments of joy can also boast a plethora of brilliant names in European languages.
The Dutch plump for the simple 'paperclip', which is nice, if a little easy.
The Spanish, in true mañana spirit, have settled on the abbreviated 'clips'.
The Hungarians, linguistic outsiders of astonishing uniqueness, use 'irodai gemkapos', sounding not unlike a flavour of orc in Lord of the Rings.
Our industrious friends the Czechs use the wonderful 'dopisni sponky' ["Hi, a box of medium sponkies, please"]
But first prize goes to the French who, in a bout of literalism to rival the Welsh for microwave ('popty ping' - literally 'an oven which goes ping') have dubbed these mighty curls of wire 'trombones'. Parfait!
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