Eskies

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Small insulated containers used for keeping food and drinks cold during transport or outdoor activities ; portable coolers designed to maintain low temperatures for perishables and beverages ; compact chilled storage boxes utilized to preserve freshness and chill items temporarily
2. Devices often used in picnics and trips to store refreshments at low temperatures ; compact, often portable, insulated boxes to keep contents cool over time ; containers that help maintain the coldness of items while away from refrigeration
3. Insulated boxes or bags that preserve the cool temperature of food and drinks ; practical containers for outdoor use to keep perishables chilled ; portable refrigeration units to ensure items remain fresh and cold temporarily

Etymology: "Eskies" is the plural of "esky", which is an Australian term for an insulated portable cooler, the kind people pack with ice and drinks for a day at the beach. The word began as a brand name. Esky was registered by Malley's Ltd, a company based in Sydney, and the name dates from 1952. Like many brand names that became household words, it was eventually genericised, meaning ordinary speakers stopped treating it as a trademark and used it for any cooler of this type. The name itself is a playful blend. Its first part comes from "Esk" as in "Eskimo," and the ending "-ie" is a common diminutive suffix in Australian English, the same one that turns "barbecue" into "barbie" and "afternoon" into "arvo." The implied link to Inuit-style insulation makes the name a bit of a joke about keeping things cold, though the company's choice of a shortened form of a word now considered offensive by many would not be acceptable today.

Synonyms: coolers, iceboxes, cooler boxes, portable coolers, ice chests