List of British English terms relating to buses and tools, in alphabetical order, with their American English counterparts. Does not include terms related to driving and roads.
| British English | American English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| (destination) blind | ? | printed displays of bus routes and numbers on roller blinds |
| (old) banger | beater | |
| accelerator (pedal) | gas pedal | |
| accumulator (electrical) (obs) | battery/ cell | |
| actuator | switch/ servo | |
| alternator | generator (AC) | |
| aluminium | aluminum | |
| anti-clockwise | counter clockwise | |
| anti-freeze | coolant | |
| anti-roll bar | stabiliser/ sway bar | |
| BA | British Association | thread type |
| bells | chimes | |
| big end bearing | rod bearing | the end of a connecting rod which attaches to the crankshaft |
| bonnet | hood | 'Hood' in BE means 'Soft top' in AE |
| boot | trunk | |
| BSF | British Standard Fine | thread type |
| bush | bushing | |
| cable (electrical) | lead | |
| car | auto | |
| carburettor | carburetor | |
| catch/ lock | latch | |
| chassis | frame? | |
| circlip | snap-ring/ Jesus clip | |
| clearance/ play/ free play | lash | |
| coach | bus (express or excursion) | |
| conductor (bus) | guard? | |
| crosshead (screwdriver) | Phillips | not the same as Pozidrive |
| crownwheel (of differential) | ring gear | |
| damper | shock absorber | |
| demister | defroster | |
| diesel / DERV | fuel oil | |
| dog rail | guard rail? | wooden rail along sides of vehicle between axles to prevent mammals going underneath |
| driving licence | driver's license/ permit | |
| dynamo | Generator (DC) | |
| earth (electrical) | ground | |
| exhaust manifold | header | |
| first (gear) | bottom | |
| flatting/ sanding (down) | sanding | |
| freewheel/ coast | coast | |
| gallon | British gallon | |
| gear lever/ stick | gear shift/ stick | |
| gearbox | transmission | not including the other parts of the drive line |
| grub screw | set screw | |
| gudgeon pin | piston pin/ wrist pin | |
| halfshaft | axleshaft | often disconnected during towing |
| handbrake | parking brake | as opposed to the footbrake or service brake |
| hazard warning lights | four ways | |
| hire (a vehicle) | rent | |
| hood | soft top | 'Hood' in AE means 'Bonnet' in BE |
| indicators | blinkers/ turn signals | |
| little/ small end | piston pin/ wrist pin | the end of a connecting rod which attaches to the piston |
| main beam (headlights) | brights | |
| mileometer | odometer | |
| mudflap | No direct term? | Flexible flap usually attached to bottom of wings (fenders) |
| nearside | curb side | The side of the vehicle nearest the kerb |
| number/ registration plate | license plate/ tag | |
| O/ Operator's Disc | Licence disc in windscreen indicating PCV Operator | |
| off side | No direct term? | The side of the vehicle furthest from the kerb |
| paraffin | kerosene | |
| perspex | plexiglass | |
| petrol | gasoline | 'Petroleum' in American English means 'Crude Oil' in British |
| pin (electrical) | prong | |
| press studs | snaps | |
| propeller (prop) shaft | driveshaft | |
| public transport | mass transit | |
| quarterlight/ drop light | opening quarter window | |
| retread | recap | |
| rev(olution) counter | tachometer | |
| reversing light | back-up light | |
| rocker cover | valve cover | |
| roller blind | shade | |
| scrapyard | junkyard | |
| seat cushion | the cushion that you sit on, but not the one that supports your back | |
| seat squab | No direct term? | the cushion that supports your back |
| sidelight | parking light | |
| silencer | muffler | |
| socket (electrical) | outlet/ jack? | |
| spanner | wrench | open-ended, hand tool |
| split pin | cotter pin | |
| spring washer | lock washer | |
| steering arm | spindle arm | |
| sump | oil pan | |
| tap | faucet | |
| tappet/ cam follower | valve lifter/ tappet | |
| tax disc | no equivalent | disc that used to be required displayed in windscreen indicating payment of vehicle road tax, 6 or 12-monthly |
| thrust bearing | throw-out/ release bearing | |
| tickover | idle | |
| timetable | schedule | |
| top (gear) | high | |
| torch | flashlight | |
| trackrod (steering) | tie-rod/ connecting rod | |
| trafficator (obsolete) | blinker/ turn signal | |
| transmission | drive line | |
| tyre | tire | |
| wheel nut | lug nut | |
| Whitworth/ BSW | British Standard Whitworth | thread type |
| windscreen | windshield | |
| wing (front) | fender | British term does not include the flexible 'mudflaps' which may be attached |
| wing (rear) | ? |
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