The Great Luggage Lexicon Debate: Rollaboard or Rollerboard?
As a self-proclaimed seasoned traveler, I always assumed my terminology was on point. Growing up, my family exclusively used the term "rollerboard" to describe those ubiquitous wheeled suitcases that have revolutionized modern travel. Imagine my astonishment when a friend's text message featuring the word "rollaboard" sent me spiraling into a linguistic crisis. Was my entire travel vocabulary built on a shaky foundation?
You're Not Alone in the Confusion
Fortunately, my uncertainty is widely shared. A decidedly unscientific online poll conducted back in 2010 revealed that 53% of respondents preferred "rollaboard," 32% stood by "rollerboard," and a confused 15% admitted they had "no idea" which term was correct. This division prompted a deeper investigation into the official terminology and its fascinating evolution.
Tracing the Origins: From Trademark to Common Parlance
According to linguist and lexicographer Ben Zimmer, "'Roll aboard' was the original term." The landscape changed significantly when Robert Plath trademarked "Rollaboard" for his company Travelpro in 1991. However, evidence suggests luggage appeared under the brand name "Roll-Aboard" as early as 1985. An advertisement from that year in New Jersey's Daily Record newspaper promoted a "U.S. Luggage Roll-Aboard Group" available at M. Epstein's department store in Morristown.
Etymologist Barry Popik, who shared this historical clipping, noted that while the ad claimed a trademark, the luggage depicted "does not look like luggage on wheels." This marks the beginning of a complex journey from specific trademarks to generic terms used by travelers worldwide.
The 1990s: A Decade of Linguistic Diversification
The 1990s witnessed the proliferation of various terms for the rolling suitcase. Travelpro's "rollabord" suitcases began appearing in newspaper advertisements early in the decade. By 1994, references to nonspecific "roll-aboard" luggage emerged in publications. Simultaneously, from 1993 onward, advertisements for "rollerboard" suitcases started circulating, with a 1999 clipping from a Canadian newspaper specifically mentioning "roller board suitcases."
Zimmer explained that "'Rollerboard' began appearing as a more generic term in the 1990s. It may have started out as a misinterpretation of 'roll-aboard,' but it also avoided the trademarked term." This strategic avoidance is highlighted in a 2003 USA Today article discussing the terminology.
Modern Usage and the Eggcorn Phenomenon
Even contemporary literature reflects this linguistic divide. Author Jonathan Franzen employed "rollerboard" in his 2018 essay collection "The End of the End of the Earth," much to the chagrin of pilot and blogger Patrick Smith. Similarly, Gary Shteyngart used the same term in his novel "Lake Success," published that same year. Interestingly, "Rollerboard" is itself trademarked by a skateboard company called Rollerboard International, giving the word an entirely different meaning outside travel contexts.
Zimmer identifies "rollerboard" as a classic example of an eggcorn—a linguistic phenomenon where a word or phrase is altered through misinterpretation or mishearing, yet still makes logical sense in context. The term "eggcorn" itself originated as an eggcorn for "acorn." Unlike a malapropism, an eggcorn reshapes the original elements into something that seems plausible.
The Logic Behind Both Terms
Lexicographer Jesse Sheidlower maintains that "It's 'roll-aboard'—which could be written with a hyphen, a space, or as a closed compound—because it rolls aboard a plane." However, he acknowledges the logical appeal of "rollerboard," as it evokes objects with wheels, like skateboards or luggage.
Sheidlower notes, "Re-analyzing elements of words or compounds is known as 'folk etymology' among other names. Often this happens when less-common words or elements are replaced by more-common ones." He provides compelling historical parallels, such as "bridegroom," which evolved from "bride-goom" (where "goom" was Middle English for "man") as "goom" fell out of usage. Another example is "wheelbarrel," a common variant of "wheelbarrow," because "barrow" is relatively uncommon, and the object resembles half a barrel.
"In your example," Sheidlower adds, "neither 'roll' nor 'aboard' are particularly unusual, but 'roller' is very common, and 'rollerboard' is at least a plausible-sounding compound."
Conclusion: Peace in the Luggage Lexicon
So, what's the final verdict? While "rollaboard" may have historical precedence through trademark and early usage, both "rollaboard" and "rollerboard" are perfectly acceptable in contemporary discourse. The journey from trademarked term to common parlance, complete with eggcorns and folk etymology, showcases the dynamic, evolving nature of language. As travelers, we can now pack our linguistic uncertainties away and focus on the journey ahead, confident that our terminology—whichever variant we choose—carries the weight of historical and linguistic validation.
