My memory is that "chunnel" was invented by British headline writers in the early 1990s.

It never took off, and is now really used only by tourists trying to show off their (inaccurate) local knowledge, though journalists still have it as one of those words (like 'snub') that no-one uses, but save space and are widely understood.

I'm told British tourists in the US talking about somewhere called Frisco are a rough parallel.

I think Time Magazine coined the word. It never caught on in Europe or among Americans who really travel.

Actually, I found this in an article about the Oxford dictionary:

<b> 'Chunnel' (which dates from 1928!) is still occasionally encountered, but is used less now that the Tunnel is a reality.</b>

One time when this anal British reaction to the use of the word Chunnel came up someone found zillions of Chunnel references still being used in English media

what the hell difference does it make

anal yes

Sorry, I am one of those tourists , &quot;who does travel a lot&quot; who used the word Chunnel. To PalenQ, I want to thank you for Byron's number. He has made my Eurostar reservations (one-way to Paris first class for $164USD). I am going on the 12:30. I will take the 8:30 am from York to arrive by 12:00 at the Eurostar checkin. He was also able to purchase for me an 8 day British Rail Pass that I can use for Cardiff, York Edinburgh and Glasglow. It was very helpful. For example, if one travels to an from say Oxford or Cardiff or York and arrives before midnight, this counts as one day of travel. I am looking forward to taking several day trips. Having Byron take care of the train portion of my trip has been extremely helpful and time-saving!!! Thanks so much. Johanna

Johanna thanks for the thanks but the word Chunnel is officially banned on Fodor's due to concerns for the sensabilities, if not sensitivities, of Brits

I've taken first class on the Chunnel trains a few times and there is a vast difference in seat sizes and they serve a great meal and IME keep bringing out the booze!

'Chunnel' (which dates from 1928!) is still occasionally encountered, but is used less now that the Tunnel is a reality.

this from the Oxford dictionary sourcing and it originated in good ole England not the U.S.

Chunnel - get over it

Given the number of posts from yanks absolutely desperate to blend in, I would have thought you'd all have avoided 'Chunnel' like the plague....

If you really want to stand out, (and don't want to do the whole photographers gilet and fanny pack business), you might want to just periodically plonk 'the' in front of Eurostar, use 'Brit Air' (instead of 'British Airways', 'Virgin Airways' (instead of Virgin Atlantic), and (my personal favourite) 'Stonehinge'.

&lt;&lt;&lt; and (my personal favourite) 'Stonehinge'. &gt;&gt;&gt;

Don't you mean Stonehedge?

BTW Britair is a genuine airline

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brit_Air

how about 'take a eurostar train'?

or is it in proper England English 'take eurostar train'

Take the Eurostar

well is there only one or 'the' Eurostar train a day?

&quot;a&quot; signifies more than one train

Take the Eurostar

Take a Eurostar train

Announcement at St Pancras

&quot;Eurostar train 9341 to Paris is now ready for loading at platform 1&quot;

No &quot;the&quot; nor &quot;a&quot;

I'm gonna take a Eurostar train to Paris - to reach the Eurostar i must go to St Pancras Station - Eurostar train 9324 is the one i'm taking thru the CHUNNEL

In the technology sector, a chunnel refers to the large air duct that expunges approximately 1,000,000 cubic feet of supercooled air per minute (more or less) onto the area in which you are trying to work.

Usually found above cubes or in data centres above the KVM switches that attach to the monitors and keyboards, thusly making the affected technician shiver so much that he mis-types commands and destroys critical data.

goldwynn

thanks for documenting that the word Chunnel is an authentic word in its own right and not some cute combo

Not withstanding the fact that it doesn't actually mean a rail tunnel under the sea, then......

&lt;Not withstanding the fact that it doesn't actually mean a rail tunnel under the sea, then&gt;

no and i've been scraping my head trying to come up with a cute link between the two but cannot - tante pis!