sniffer
n.— «As they talk, the flashlight—this is no ordinary flashlight—is on the job. It is a little-known device that surreptitiously traps a sample of a motorist’s breath and tests for the presence of alcohol. Commonly called “sniffers,” they are used by some law enforcement agencies in the central San Joaquin Valley.» —“Sniffing out crime” by Tim Eberly Fresno Bee (California) Dec. 31, 2006. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
You must log in to post a comment.
Deviled Eggs (episode #1554) 09/14/2020:
Some TV commercials launch catchphrases that stick around long after the original ads. The exclamation Good stuff, Maynard! is still a compliment almost 40 years... [more]
Play It by Ear (episode #1553) 08/31/2020: How does social context shape our perception of language? When hiking the Appalachian Trail, a young woman from Wyoming found that fellow hikers assumed she... [more]
Moon Palace (episode #1552) 08/17/2020: What happens in a classroom of refugee and immigrant youngsters learning English? Their fresh approach to language can result in remarkable poetry — some of... [more]
Online Event August 27, 2020: Lemonade, Anyone? 08/04/2020: ... [more]
Cherry Bombs (episode #1551) 07/27/2020: An ornithologist says there's a growing movement to change the name of a pink-footed bird currently called the flesh-footed shearwater. The movement reflects a growing... [more]
“Sniffer” also occurs in industry for a similar instrument used in leak detection. It’s often modified: “helium sniffer,” etc.