(25 Apr 2014, 3:26 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote The Question is in the Thread Title, and it is something that I really fail to Understand is why Enthusiasts Refer to Buses as Females.

Surely there is some form of sense behind this I am sure, but on the flip side a Bus has an Exhaust, which to me would in a jokingly manner indicate it does in fact have a "Penis" and would of course be Male, rather than a "Vagina" in which this case may indicate that it's a Hybrid Electric Bus, which I would then sort of understand, But again on the Flip side of Things as a Bus has an Exhaust but is referred to as a Female, would that not make the Bus a "Tranny", in which I would again be confused by this reference by some Enthusiasts.

Someone please clear this up for me....I can sense this going to be a Great Topic of Conversation now isn't it.

This question appeared in the 'GNE - Latest' thread a while back.

Gtom probably provided the most satisfactory answer with this response.

(21 Mar 2014, 9:56 am)gtom wrote There's a bit of debate as to why vessels (planes, boats and seemingly buses) are called her. It's generally accepted for one of the following reasons

1) Ships used to be dedicated to the female in a man's life, going back further in history they were named after ancient goddesses. Whilst in ancient times women were considered to be bad luck to be on board a ship, it is not bad luck to name the ship

2) The less interesting theory is that the word 'ship' was a feminine grammatical term and its simply carried through history. Modern English doesn't have male/feminine terms but those of you who have studied French or German will be will aware of masculine and feminine grammar.

The second theory is probably the most likely reason although, personally, I tend not to genderize vehicles, ships, boats or indeed any other inanimate object.